Recently, I drove from Eagle, Idaho to Lincoln, Montana to teach with my friend Winn Griffin at a Vineyard pastor’s retreat. It was the fourth such Vineyard event Winn and I have done this spring. I have been very grateful to be back among my friends and colleagues in the Vineyard. Though I am now working with The Anglican Mission (AMiA), there will forever be no way to say Todd Hunter, without thinking in part about the Vineyard–and that is as it ought to be!
I am not working with AMiA as any sign that I left the Vineyard because it is in someway deficient. My work with AMiA is rooted in sheer calling–totally out of the blue for me, yet I feel settled in it and joyful. But I digress…back to the road trip.
As much as I like Winn, and as BEAUTIFUL as the drive is along 95, 12, and 13 through Idaho and Montana, I needed something to do to keep my mind occupied on a ten-hour car ride. Plus, truth be known, if you are willing to hear a little confession, I’ve become an addicted multi-tasker. I say this to my shame–no one tell Richard, Dallas or Eugene–they would be very disappointed in their student! 
I’m gonna quit I swear! The other day I wrote in big letters across the next few months in my calendar a favorite piece of spiritual direction from Dallas Willard: ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life!
But I digress again–good thing this is just a blog and not an article or book…
Anyway… before the trip, I went with my wife, Debbie, to a bookstore to get an audio book for the drive. Among the choices, I picked How The Irish Saved Civilization, by Thomas Cahill. It is an amazing story told by a master of his craft. My one big take-away: Christianity is at is best from the margins of society, in peripheral places, where it looks like nothing is happening. I’m not talking of being physically separated from society as the island of Ireland is physically separated from continental Europe. I’m talking about the margins of society where Christianity no longer holds the power and influence it once did during the age of Christendom. The surprising truth about Christianity from the margins is: through uncommon self-sacrifice and commitment to others, God does profound work… like saving civilization.
April 28th, 2009 at 8:26 am
[...] Hunter has written a thought here about Christianity from the Margins,that’s quite encouraging when you look at what we’re doing with [...]
April 29th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
“through uncommon self-sacrifice and commitment to others, God does profound work…”, I love that statement and see that demonstrated
each weekend when we spend time with our friends without homes. By the way read the book “How the Irish saved civilization” a few years ago..enjoyed it as well.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Great post.
I thought you might appreciate this article from Greg Boyd on the same subject – http://mcchronicle.com/Articles/Aug09/Art_Aug09_oped1.html
September 16th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Thanks Kevin–I’ll try to take a look at it.