An Interesting Quote
Found the following quote at Quotes of the Day:

The price one pays for pursuing any profession or calling is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.
James Baldwin
US author (1924 - 1987)

Wow! Did that strike a note. I remember at one point when things weren't going very well realizing that what I knew- and know- about the work and life of the church is not always very pleasant. The human- "ugly"- side can be downright dark at times. We say there's to be no politics in our denomonational relations, then live very politically. We say the church is to be Jesus' Living Body and then live in many ways unlike Jesus would live if it were His body. We make demands and say nasty things. We are just as human as anyone else and the church is a human institution.

On the other hand, we all know those times and places where and when the church rose far beyond its simple human sinfulness and was a shining light in the darkness. I know it doesn't happen as often as we would like, but at least we know it does happen . That is enough some days for me to find ways to live the faith in community. For in the end it is not the institution that is the church, it is the people in community with other Christians.

Liquid Diet: Update
Of all things, it hasn't been as difficult or as spiritual as I expected. (Isn't that the way it often is?) The above thoughts are part of what has been happening though, and they hit me quite significantly. Another step on the journey, I guess.