Independence. Success. Upward Mobility. Security. Comfort. In subtle and direct ways, many of us have been sent a message by the world (and sometimes by the faith systems we have been part of) that life is about moving up–away from pain and suffering and toward comfort, stability, and put-togetherness. This kind of living is much different than the kind of life Jesus calls us to in the gospels. Jesus consistently modeled going down into the low and messy places of people’s experiences–intersecting with the lepers, the lonely, the outcasts, the marginalized. He calls us to a life of humility, love, and interdependence.
This month’s synchroblog will explore the idea of downward mobility and other themes in Kathy Escobar’s book, Down We Go, however it is not required reading and this is not a book review synchroblog. Where do you see Jesus calling you downward? What does it mean to you? How is your faith being stretched and challenged on the journey down? What is hard about a downwardly mobile life? What’s satisfying? Do you find yourself bitter sometimes? Are there paradoxes to be explored?
If you would like to join in the conversation, please plan to submit your name, name of blog, title of post and link in the comment section of the this (October) announcement on the Synchroblog blog by 6 p.m. EST 10/11/2011 if you would like to be included in this synchroblog. The list of participants will be compiled and posted on 10/12/2011.
synchroblog 
I will be participating.
The name of my post is:
Seeking the Next Demotion
http://www.tillhecomes.org/seeking-demotion/
It will be posted at about 10:00 am on 10/11.
I’m looking forward to everyone else writes!
Hi There!
My name is Glenn Hager. My personal blog is called Breathe. My post is entitled, Pretty People. Here’s the link:
http://glennhager1.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/pretty-people/
Great topic!
This looks like being an interesting topic.
Here is the link to my contribution to this month’s synchroblog:
http://charismissional.com/reaching-the-inner-city
My blog is called CharisMissional and my name is David Derbyshire. My post is called Reaching the Inner City.
Name: Tammy Carter
Blog: Blessing the Beloved
Post: Flightplan
Link: http://blessingthebeloved.blogspot.com/2011/10/flightplan.html
I will participate.
My blog is Journalfrom Zarephath.
Link: http://zarephath.wordpress.com/
My response for this synchroblog is entitled “Jacked-Up” and will be online on October 12th.
And the other “voice in my head” will also particpate at “my other blog”:
Title: “How Low Can We Go?”
Blog: “Rantings of a Protestant Heretic”.
Link: http://protestantheretic.wordpress.com/
Aww… correct my blog to “Journal [space] from Zarephath”, please Sonja. Sometimes my typing is just so “jacked-up”. 🙂
Will do and happy to help 🙂
Here is mine: A Beautiful Mess http://gracerules.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/a-beautiful-mess/
Mine’s not quite ready, but the link will be: http://www.myrealjourney.com/2011/10/down.html
I’ll have it done and published before I go to bed tonight.
I’m Maria Kettleson Anderson, and my blog is The Real Journey.
I enjoyed doing this one. Here is my post. No failure in the Kingdom of God http://godspace.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/no-failure-in-the-kingdom-of-god/
here’s mine! http://desertspiritsfire.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-synchroblog-down-we-go.html
Blog: Hugh’s Views
Post: Downward
Link: http://www.hughlh.com/downward/
here’s mine, thanks, sonja!
kathy escobar – the carnival in my head
we may look like losers re-dux
http://kathyescobar.com/2011/10/11/we-may-look-like-losers-re-dux/
I’m late again! Am I too late to submit my post?
It’s called “Slumming it for Jesus”
and it’s at http://antwrites.com/2011/10/12/slumming-it-for-jesus/
Here is my post info.
Blog: Wendy McCaig: View from the Bridge
Post Title: “A Material Girl”
Link: http://wendymccaig.com/2011/10/12/a-material-girl-october-synchroblog/
Great topic! Looking forward to reading all the submissions.