The Family Of Things

You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body, love what it loves. Tell me about despair;  yours, and I will tell you mine... Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting-- Over and over announcing your place in the family of things...   -M. Oliver Today is my brother Spiwo's birthday. Many of you know him from your travels to South Africa with AIAIA over the years. Spiwo is a Presbyterian minister and has partnered with Arm In Arm In Africa from the beginning of our 19 mission trips.  I want to thank Spiwo for his years of  determination and courage on behalf of all our South African friends and families. Together, we are better...together, we are family. There is no better way "to announce our place in the family of things." The delegation continues to celebrate and take in the wonder of all God's creation and creatures. We will have a work session this afternoon to pull together information and feedback from the delegation. This information is invaluable to our shaping a solid and intentional future for AIAIA.  Again, I thank the many individuals that financially support this mission. James Cassidy, President AIAIA