If you want context for this article, please read this article which refers to Jean (not her real name.)

I feel so happy that we figured out that Jean was not going to be compatible with Wilberforce Village membership at this time because there is no running water or electricity. Although I don’t claim to have these things, I realize I also do not emphasize enough that I need someone who is willing to live without these things at the present time.

Eventually I do want to have some places which are on the grid because I want to accommodate all kinds of people. I envision so many projects that could help people be healthy, free, thriving and which will support saving the animals. I’ve written about these projects here: https://wordpress.com/post/wilberforcevillage.com/7151‘

We were proceeding with her coming to visit and getting to know each other before Jean realized that the community site did not have the kind of environment she needed. Right now I am helping to caretake a property 15 minutes a way, helping the owner to sell the place. Read about that project here: http://www.livingspringsloghouse.wordpress.com I had permission from the owner to host Jean and her friend, and the apartment I am living in has running water, electricity and air conditioning. It’s a very modern home.

Sometimes I think God blinds us to certain things so that we will go forward with doing something we would not have done if we had seen something that was a block. I would call this serendipity–what happened with Jean. I used to use that word a lot and I need to bring it back to my life. Sometimes I can get so goal oriented I won’t listen to the still small voice telling me to take a detour that isn’t really a detour. “The phenomenon of finding a thing not sought for” is the definition of serendipity. Jean definitely helped me find some things I had not expected to find–including realizing that I no longer want to limit the community to being Christian, but rather spiritual. I know I need to write more about that topic and why I came to that conclusion.

inspired me to make a much more comprehensive questionnaire, which she was happy to fill out. I just posted it. Getting this done is a huge accomplishment.

If you read the blog post mentioned above, you will know all the exciting and inspiring things that happened with our connection. I feel grateful to know Jean, and at some point I am hoping she will write something for the blog. She has already offered to edit, even though she won’t be living here at this time. She wants to continue cultivating our friendship, and be open to joining the community when there are facilities that meet her needs. If she can find something before that time, that would be great.

I have not put a great deal of energy into the Wilberforce Village Project for the past year and a half because I feel a need to repay this debts that I owe to people. This is a long story, but I am getting close to paying off these debts, and in the mean time, whenever I can squeeze in time to focus on Wilberforce, I am going to do it. I’ve also felt blocks–feelings of unworthiness and thinking I just am not cut out to be a community founder. But with God, with Jesus, with Holy Spirit–I believe I can.

Positive feedback from people like Jean help me to move forward, learn, grow, feel more hopeful.

Thank you Jean! I look forward to seeing how our future unfolds together and how we can joyfully support each other.