I went to the church today to say goodbye.  Instead we had ceviche.

The rightness of people and place is one of the most valuable things there is.  I have learned a lot, living day-by-day in this little town in the Baja.  It's too much to get into on a long-form format such as this.  I need more space, and time to rest.

And eat ceviche.

The church dogs were barking at something, but it wasn't me.  They were friendly with me.  I didn't used to love dogs.  In fact I disliked them quite intensely.  But not anymore.  God tells us to love our enemies, for crying out loud.

Life is too short to hate things that are innocent.

As a church dog myself, I must admit I understand almost nothing of what is said during the service.  But the spirit is right.  My spirit understands.

God keeps his promises.

The service came to an end and time was passing.  People were cooking, slicing fish, talking... I was enjoying the conversation, but I knew Louie was going to be getting nervous.  So I went back to get him.  I brought him to the table.  The kids wanted to pet him.  He was very well-behaved.

Fur was getting in the pastor's food, however, so me and Louie went back into our cushioned cage.  I tried to feed him some of the grilled meat, but he didn't want any.  We had a good time anyway.  It isn't clear in the photograph, but nobody minded him being on the table.  Dogs walk around freely under everybody, and fish do backflips for the amusement of the children.  Not really.  Fish are in a great deal of danger, when they're not underwater.  But the dog part is true.  It applies to cats as well.  Nobody minded Louie.  He did alright.

We posed for a group photo, which I was asked to join.  Even as a disenfranchised expat who is more comfortable in Mexico than in my own country, I'm still a gringo, and am unaccustomed to the pace of this place.  It's a different way of thinking.  It's possible I will never entirely understand it.  But it's okay.  Nobody is asking me to, and I don't need to.  I'm just happy to have found an oasis of Christian brothers and sisters, down here in the Baja, where fish do backflips on the table and the church dogs distribute clouds of cat fur to the children gathered at the feet of the holy host of Heaven.  I was in a good mood when I woke up, but I didn't expect to have such a good day to day.  It's possible I spoke too soon about leaving.  Perhaps there is a fine line between maintaining a contingency mindset and having no faith in anything whatsoever.  I have learned a lot about faith since stopping here 2 1/2 weeks ago.  I'm not the same person I was when I crossed the Rubicon.  Does God want me to stay here?  Stay posted and find out.

I'm talking to myself, y'know.

Thanks for listening.