Young Adults and Work

Wow, we haven't updated this in ages.  Lots has gone on--a move into the house, Rose and Peach home for the summer, guests for retreats and visits, application for our 501(c)(3) filed, presentations and tables at summer festivals and at churches.

My thoughts today are on the number of young adults we've been talking to recently.  People who are full of creativity, passion, many of them struggling, but optimistic.  Over the weekend, while dining out after a presentation about Lagom Landing, Rock and I met Ruben (not his real name), a 23-year-old who spent one year at Nazareth College, and did some other college work in the area of Music Therapy.  He dropped out after a year or so, saying that it was hard to be motivated when he knew how tough it would be to get a job out of college, given the state's fiscal cutbacks in education, where music and art programs are often the first to go.

Ruben's face lit up when we asked him his dream "to start a hippy commune in CO!"  In a small world experience, he shared that he had lived in my hometown of Longmont, CO for a few months, and wants to go back.  Based on his dream, we talked about the growing need, on an environmental but also economic level, to share resources/come together with neighbors. For example, one family might be able to provide washer/dryer, while another could pitch in a lawnmower.  Another family might have garden tools and space for a garden.

Ruben's dream makes sense.  We continue to find a great amount of energy in the twenty-something generation to conserve and share.  Despite his day-to-day, paycheck-to-paycheck situation struggling to pay the rent on a restaurant server's salary, Ruben was optimistic, pleasant, and fun to talk to.

Which reminded us also of Dan (also not his real name), a Marine we met this summer who's recently gone off active duty after serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and most recently, Japan.  Dan has been offered work as an armed agent for Brinks--a money-delivery service for banks and businesses.  He turned down the generous offer, saying he wants to do something his heart is behind.  He talked about the number of returned military personnel he knows who take a long time to figure out what they want to do after getting off active duty.  He wants to hold out and find something that he can be passionate about.  Having saved up a good deal of money from his time in the service, he struggles with substance abuse and laziness, and wants to contribute to society.  He just doesn't know how to do it.

Young adults get a bad rap.  It's far too easy to write them off as lazy or unmotivated.  Society's challenge is to figure out what lights their fire, and help them to light it.   I went on a farm tour recently, where western New York farmers were sharing about labor challenges.  One farm participates in the government's H2A program to bring in workers from Mexico to help with the harvest.  The other farm found the H2A program too cumbersome to meet its need for workers, and solved its labor shortage by hiring recently-arrived refugees.  Both farms spoke about how difficult it is to find competent and hard-working labor, particularly for the long days and grueling work of bringing in the harvest.

I do not argue one bit with this. We've seen a bit of their reality. Rock has a hard time finding young people who are willing to build with him.   He doesn't like having to monitor people all the time to make sure they're working, and won't hire anyone who he has to keep pestering to get to work.  However, we also have experienced young adults who, when they are actively engaged in the process of learning to build, will work extremely long hours in hard conditions, and enjoy the process.

A fundamental piece behind Lagom Landing is that many young people have an innate desire to work with their hands.  They often are not given the opportunity to do so, however, in our increasingly computer-based world.  We've seen young people who don't know how to use a screw gun, hammer a nail, or even do dishes.  However, when shown how to do so, something "clicks", and the person feels engaged and empowered.

Here are some photos from our retreat with the Central Presbyterian Geneseo youth group.  We were incredibly blessed by the willingness and hard work that each of the 9 participants brought to our four days together this August:

 

Here comes the sun . . .

Out bushwacking on my backcountry skis last week, I couldn't help but feel I was in the scene in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe where winter's icy grip on Narnia was loosening, overcome by the warmth and promise of a spring-out there somewhere! Streams were running full tilt and birds were singing. I found myself seduced by the kiss of March sunshine, stopping again and again just to let it shine upon my face--in no hurry to get anywhere.

Here comes the sun, little darlin'.

Here comes the sun.

It's been a long, long lonely winter.

It seems like years since it's been here.

Here comes the sun.

I feel the ice is slowly meltin'.

Here comes the sun.

Winter is a difficult season for many of us. Cold and dark can seep into spirit as easily as bone. I'm a bit of a palar bear, loving the beautiful, brutal fragility of winter, but even I find myself longing for spring this year.

Several friends seem to have been hit especially hard this winter. Many pastors and churches we know seem to be struggling with an unnamable helplessness.

In these battles, vision is hampered by the long, dark night. It is difficult to accept where we are. Often times we are tempted to look for elusive, complex cures for our dormant spirits.

Perhaps the lessons offered by the changing seasons are far more direct and literal than we can fathom. All of nature waits patiently through the false death of winter. The stark beauty of bare branches speaks of unimaginable patience. Trees bear no fruit or leaves or green beauty for months.

Eugene Peterson's The Message, Romans 8:

"Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready . . . meanwhile the joyful anticipation deepens. The waiting does not diminish us anymore than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting."

Can we wait? Can we put our own ability to bear fruit, to impact our world, to make a difference, into hibernation? How much of who we are is tied to producing? Can we let go of the burdens of psuedo-responsibility we all want to bear? The waiting is so hard, but guess what? (more of The Message)

"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. The Spirit does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs--our aching groans. The Spirit knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."

Maybe we don't need to be cured or fixed or made whole. Perhaps a step out into March sunshine might remind us all that spring be comin', that resurrection happens, that Christ is rising. All of this occurs with or without our striving.

In that light, we have this update: Lägom House is near completion! We plan on moving in this coming weekend. Next week, countertops donated by DuPont Corporation will be constructed by our dear friend and Board member, Blue Hannon. And that should complete construction!

In the brick work of our masonry heater, we have a stone inscribed with the word Lägom (which means "enough; just the right amount"). My son Jake and I stepped back to admire the heater. He put his arm around me and in the way only Jake can, said,

"Gee, Dad, if this is Lägom, I wouldn't want to see what too much looks like!"

Indeed, this place is "too much" for just Laurel and I. We invite you to "come and see" the place God has called us to build. The Moody Blues put it well in the song Watching and Waiting:

"Don't be alarmed by our fields and our forests; they're here for only you to share."

The doors will soon be open. There is some good medicine here for the early-spring doldrums. Join us in some "joyful anticipation."

Here comes the sun. Let's celebrate together!

Love,

Rock

P.S. We also invite you to check out our recently-launched website, and please pass on feedback! www.lagomlanding.org

website!

Check out www.lagomlanding.org

We finally have a website!

Almost time to move!

We've had some great and busy weeks! Spoke about the program at the Dansville Free Methodist Church yesterday.

Plans to attend the GCC Lima fair April 9, and speak at Dansville Presbyterian in May. It's always great to hear people's thoughts on the program, and to get to know more people in the community.

We would like to start gathering groups of juniors and seniors in high school for some focus groups, asking what they would particularly be interested in for a gap year.

Our website should be up by early next week--I'll post something here when it is. Also, a revamped brochure is being professionally designed and will be printed soon.

Within two weeks, we hope to move into the new place! Have been researching permaculture opportunities for landscaping on the muddy reality surrounding the house.

Thank you all for your prayers and support! Here are a few pics, and we'll post more and a new update soon!

Blessings and gratitude,

Rock and Laurel

"Making Room" - Winter Update on Build

Warm Greetings this Cold January, from Lägom Landing!

Our little blue double-wide has been full to overflowing with various “human beans” since well before Christmas. The girls (Peach and Rose) have been home from college, and our nephew Owen has been living with us. Son Jake has crashed here after working late on the house. At times we’ve had up to seven people spending the night in this tight space, plus we’ve been providing lunch for 4-8 workers every day.

In the midst of this “crowding”, I’ve been thinking a lot about “making room”. Thoughts have been bouncing around in my head since Christmas. Ironically, with the mad rush of building, I haven’t “made room” to get the thoughts out to ya’ll. Perhaps one needs to fall in the trap he or she intends to reflect on before being qualified to write down those reflections!

As Christmas approached, I was really in touch with the Innkeeper who turned away Mary and Joseph. How could we find a place for our nephew in need, with the girls coming home in this tiny house? The right to my space is part of my American consciousness.

Winter mornings , as the “beans” lay sleeping, the illusions of this thinking began to unravel as I looked into the BIG LOVE of God found in Christ.

In a world that found little room for him (even in his birth!), he was always making space. For an outcast woman at a well, for an unclean woman bleeding for years, for a Roman soldier whose little boy was dying, for Zacchaeus, the tax collector, lowest of the low, disdained by all.

In the gospels we see Jesus in the midst of his hectic day dropping everything to care for us vulnerable creatures.

Jesus is the clearest picture of God that we have, and what I find in him is room. I love Eugene Peterson’s interpretation of Colossians 1 in The Message: “So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding.” Christ’s life reflected this truth. I find when I am out of touch with the loving space offered to me, the “I don’t have time, I don’t have the room” lies begin to assert themselves.

The Message again, from Romans 5: “We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.”

In the midst of this build and the little crowded house, I’ve experienced that spacious love walking across the field seeing the fragile beauty of snow-frosted branches. I’ve found it in Owen’s unique perspective on life that he brings to our house. Rose’s creative energy and deep wisdom in caring for others. Peach’s willingness to try new adventures and meet new people. Jake’s strength and enthusiasm for life and boundless energy. That which I thought might crowd me, has expanded me.

So my questions to you this month are who or what do you need to make space for? How can you experience those “open spaces”, that “roominess”? For each of us the picture will look different. For some it might be time to say no to people to create healthy room for ourselves. Have we taken time to walk out into winter’s wonder? Perhaps it is time to “open our doors” to a friend or relative who has hurt us in the past? There is plenty of room for us to explore.

We are in the process of building room for up to 12 or so people. The creative and crafty juices are a-flowin’, and it is Good. Plumbing, heat, and electric are completed. The house has been drywalled, taped, and painted. Hardwood flooring and tile have been installed. We have a beautiful Red Birch kitchen built and installed by an incredibly talented crew of local Mennonites. With all of their technology used in the design process, I took to calling them the “Modernites”. After they left last week, we found a hand-printed sign on a piece of birch plywood in front of the house:

“Kitchens by the Modern Knights. Call 1-800-Holy Spirit”

Laurel and I laughed so hard.

We are now staining and painting trim, the doors are being hung and we’re pretty much on schedule for a mid to late February move-in date!

Programmatically speaking, we are presenting to more groups and churches, and also receiving our first donations, after receiving incorporation from NY State in early November.* Our Board has met three times, and we are grateful for their great guidance and support. Formally-printed brochures should be ready soon, and a website up as well.

Thank you for making room for reading this today, and for your prayers, support, and love!

Peace and love and awareness to all,

Rock

*We are grateful for everyone’s support given in many different forms. If you’d like to send a check (realizing, unfortunately, that your donation will not be tax-deductible until we receive our 501(c)(3) status), you can make checks out to Lagom Landing, and send to

7966 Reeds Corners Rd.

Dansville, NY 14437.

Greetings from Lägom Landing!
November is a month many of us wish we could skip. The sky grows grey--there’s an unforgiving smell of cold steel in the air. We start to hurry from our warm homes to our heated cars to our offices to avoid the cold slap of November.

As a builder, I haven’t always had the option of avoiding November’s cold embrace. We have been building the shell of a new home right in the heart of late Fall. The gift of November comes to those willing to turn into the wind, to enter into the mystery of a thousand shades of grey and the stark beauty of bare branches.

Light is precious this time of year. We find ourselves hurrying in the last hour of the day to get as much finished before darkness renders us unable. Yet even in our rushing, the November sunsets have brought us again and again to a standstill. As the last bit of warmth drains from the sun, the greys of the sky come alive with mysterious golds and pinky reds and oranges.

It is a vulnerable experience realizing this beauty that has struck us all speechless will be gone in four minutes.

I find myself coming to you rather humbled. Humbled by the power of November, but also humbled by the power of God’s beauty and generosity in our lives.

The house seems to have leapt up out of the ground. I love standing on the walls before the roof rafters go up, looking at a fullscale wooden picture of the architect’s blueprints. It seems only yesterday we were mulling over the plans and now the house is framed, roofed, and mostly sided.

This has been accomplished through a lot of teamwork. My son Jake, my nephew Owen, and Sean, a young skilled carpenter from our previous home of Wyoming, make a great crew working tirelessly to create a geometric wonder out of piles of lumber.

We have also been blessed by enthusiastic groups of volunteers. Friends from skiing, tennis, church, and presbytery have shown up on a regular basis. In Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller has a chapter on charity--what it feels like to be on the receiving end--to be given to instead of the one giving. As givers, we are more in control--we decide who, when, where, and how much we give. In receiving we are put in touch with our own needs--our inability to get by without help, the ways in which our falling short needs to be met with a power greater than our own.

Our local Presbyterian youth group came to us like the calvary coming over the hill at key times. Before we raised our foundation, there was a mountain of lumber to move. On a saturday afternoon they came bounding across the field full of laughter and energy. Within a couple of hours, not only was the lumber efficiently moved but a huge wall was built. Another muddy Saturday--the youth with help from some skilled adult volunteers ran 1500 feet of radiant floor tubing underneath the basement floor. The group also framed up our sizable porch deck, working in ankle-deep mud without complaint. Watching the mud-covered young people head out after the dya’s work, I felt like crying. What have Laurel and I done to receive all of this goodness?

And perhaps that’s where the real challenge of receiving lies. Can we just say thanks? Thank you without examining whether we are deserving, thank you without computing whether we can pay back somehow what we have been given. In the words of Bob Marley, “Thank you Lord, for what you’ve done for me. Thank you Lord, for what you’re doing now. Thank you, Lord, for every little thing”--Oh Yeah!

Love,

Rock

A “newsy” P.S. from Laurel: GREAT news on the “details” front: we have had another supportive Board meeting (SO grateful for our Board members), have received our state nonprofit incorporation (so we can now open a bank acct.!), and we are on our way to the 501(c)(3) status! We also found a great lawyer who has caught the vision of Lägom Landing. Thank you for your prayers and support!!!

Construction!

Wow! Only Wednesday, and we've had a lot happen!

Saturday, the Geneseo Central Presbyterian Youth came and helped us move a lot of lumber, plus build the first foundation wall. We are so grateful for their generous and joyful spirits, which really helped Rock after cutting boards all day. We shared a pot of chili and some laughs afterward.

Monday, we continued to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of community spirit. Twelve friends from presbytery, skiing, and Board connections came and helped us raise the foundation walls. All but one wall were raised in one day!!!

Tuesday, Rock, Jake, and Sean raised the final wall, and put up the floor joists for the first floor.

Wednesday (today), I helped out as well, and we got the first floor nailed and glued down, and most of the first floor walls built and up! It is incredible to see this dream taking shape. We pray deep prayers of gratitude each morning and evening, and are filled with excitement to feel, so directly, the place where we hope young people will come alive to who God has made them to be.

We are grateful!