Went to a meeting last night where a small group of pastors and leaders discussed in-depth issues surrounding the church, including racial reconciliation, new monasticism and the new ways that God is moving. Jonathan-Wilson Hartgrove was with us to lead the discussion and answer questions. I’m headed to a conference today with him, to discuss further and learn more about the new monastic movement. More on that later.
But the conversation that I had after the meeting last night with a friend was much more eye opening. He had just seen a film called A Crude Awakening, an apocalyptic film about the world’s dependence on oil, the “oil peak”, and the devastating consequences it will have when we run out. Soon. The gas shortage that is currently happening in Nashville made this discussion even more frightening- my husband left the house at 2:30 this morning to fill up my car so that he wouldn’t have to wait in line for an hour.
I’ve always had an icky feeling in my stomach that we couldn’t continue, as a nation, on the path that we are going. Consuming with no end in sight has to end somewhere. And now, I’m starting to think that my idea of planting a garden and moving in with friends wasn’t so bad after all! I am also seeing how the Lord is moving in His church to prepare us for these types of serious disasters, whenever they may happen. New monasticism is a perfect example. Jonathan said last night, (and I paraphrase), “when the stock market crashes and a dollar doesn’t hold value, it will be more important to have friends who are committed to you than to have a solid 401(k) plan.” Amen brother.
Call me crazy, but I am scared. And I think I should be. Wasn’t it Christ who said “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”? (Matthew 16:3)
Alt Idea for the Day:
I haven’t seen the film yet, but I am going to see it tonight. And then I am going to learn to be as self-sustaining as possible. Call me crazy, but don’t come runnin’ over to my house for some grub when you run out! For more info on our “oily food” problem, check out this book.
I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on the movie. Good things to mull over hon! I think we are all in the midst of a huge wake up call on so many issues!
Dear Hilary,
Just a word of encouragement– your uncle, as we speak, is putting in new tanks at his oil well. He will be pumping even more barrels of oil when his tanks are done. So, we do have our own private “oil connection” in West Virginia!
Dee
Yes, I am definitely trying not to become super freaked out and obsessive about it, which is in my personality. But I still can’t seem to find the movie to rent! Why does Blockbuster never carry any decent independent films? Grr.
I also saw a neat movie, The End of Suburbia, which “discusses the dwindling supply of cheap energy in the form of fossil fuels and its effect on society.”
Maybe try your library? (I’m a huge library fan! Haha.)
I think it’s awesome that you can be relieved about your private oil stash (hee! oil stash. Like you could HIDE that)- but that doesn’t solve the underlying problem of oil being literally essentially to this country. We need a cure, not just bandaids.