If you have something that you would like to see go up in smoke that you have had a hard time letting go, leave a comment on that post, email him at john@johnshore.com, or use the Contact Me form on his blog.
He will print out all of the resentments people send him electronically, and bring them to his church in Escondido, California, to be burned (he said he received over 200 last year), in a bonfire. The fire will happen at 8pm March 30 (Pacific time zone).
Despite the religious overtones, I actually think it's a good idea, a great symbolism, a way of symbolically letting it go, sending it up in smoke. I sent something in by e-mail myself.. What do you think of this idea?
It's interesting for sure, I'll be honest, my first instinct is to scoff and laugh at something like this. There is nothing magic about printing it up and burning it after all.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, letting go of things is a really good thing to do. Encouraging this action in people is a good thing, and having an event would probably be more effective than simply making it a sunday sermon. Further, doing it this way probably means that more people will see it, and the benefits will be spread farther.
So I guess after a little thought I like it :)
It is about the symbolism an the emotional value of it. Expressing the frustration/resentment to someone else, even if it really is anonymous, and letting it go up in smoke.
DeleteIt's a great idea and is symbolic not necessarily religious, I've heard of this before and if you think about it, the same symbolism is used in movies where they burn photos and love letters from the ex to 'let them go'. I follow John Shore too, his stuff is great to read.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think of it that way. It's letting it go, ending the past.
DeleteThe only time I've really had a problem with John Shore is when he said that former Christians probably weren't Christians at all. Grrr.... I hate that line.