Report on U2 and the Cville gathering

The informal post-U2 mini gathering was good. We had Dandelion Seed people from In, MI and NC visiting Cville to hear U2 and hang out.

Some of us had great spots right next to the stage, others were way up high and had drunks falling on them. The view was actually pretty good either way. The set design made it work well in different ways depending on how close you were. Muse was good, but their set was short.

We had good conversations about art, Jesus and community, triggered by the show, a book (Forgotten Ways by Allan Hirsch) and a movie (It Might Get Loud). A couple of questions on the table:

1. Can you live a healthy, balanced life and play a key role in starting a movement? (Seems like it's rare).
2. Why have DSC members had small artistic successes? Is it because we choose relationships and quality of life? Is it either/or?
3. Does art have to come out of suffering and struggle? (Jack White makes trouble if he's not in any, so that he can create out of it.)
4. Movements usually have a simple core with a message that anyone can understand and pass on (not just some elite group of trained people) which is part of what allows it to act on and transform culture. If Jesus started a movement, what is the core message? If the DSC is to be a movement (organic, relational, viral) what is it's core message?

We spent time sharing about our lives, projects, challenges and struggles and praying for each other. This was simple and good. People's willingness to be vulnerable and real was evident, and it makes a difference. The DSC is a network of relationships first of all, so it makes sense that we spend time building them. The deeper people are willing to go, the faster we get to the stuff that changes us and others. As we discover our message we'll rediscover our mission, and when we do new energy, miracles, relationships, and projects will sprout up from the grassroots and spread quickly and effectively through relationship old and new.