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"What do we ever know that is higher than
that power which from time to time, seizes our lives, and reveals
us startingly to ourselves as creatures set down here bewildered?
Why does death catch us by surprise, and why love? We still and
always want waking."
--Annie Dillard, The
Writing Life |
let the world be the world
let the dream unfurl
let it run its own game
let it dance with itself
I didn't put it here
gonna let it ride
gotta Master, crazy on the other side
wakin' me up
--Live
"Sun", The Distance to Here |
 FROM THE EDITOR....
So this is it, the big hoo-ha, the farewell issue of Stranger
Things. My last letter left everyone on a downer, but since I
decided to end ST I've felt a quickening of creativity pulsing
in my mind and spirit, like a man crawling in the desert finally
finding streams of water trickling from beyond the next hill
just when he gives up. With these new juices flowing, I had meant
to pen something profoundly hopeful for this exit letter
. . . but I'm still too weak to do much more than lift my head
and smile. I am healing, though, and already have my sights on
several new avenues in which to carry the ST vision as my spirit
gets revived.
But this magazine was never meant to be
about me, so I'll leave out the details. Sorry for airing my
struggles so dominantly sometimes. Stranger Things has been honored
to host rich thoughts and words from a couple dozen people lurking
on the fringes of the Christian faith, working with much hope
towards a revolution. A revolution to tear down irrelevant tradition;
religious idiocy, pride, and fear of pop culture; and misconceptions
in the greater society about our faith, hope, and love in and
for a Being who entered our reality two millenia ago and continues
to do so today. We did a sloppy and inconsistent job communicating
the whole of our mission, and often failed to really dig deep
into the media we covered, but according to all the letters you
sent, some of our thoughts struck a chord (LOUDLY) found in many
hearts and minds.
If I didn't realize the full extent of
the need for realness and renovation out there when we started,
I do now. The death of Stranger-Things- the-webzine has been,
for me, like an explosion on a dark night -- illuminating for
a brief but brilliant second the faces of so many fellow men
and women striving to exercise faith in an unseen Deity and to
travel across the trial and trap-filled land of life in search
of him. We apparently provided something thousands of people
are hungering for on the journey. I'm still figuring out what
that was, but rest assured it will be back in some form. Keep
checking this site for any new developments over the next few
years.
And now, I'll shut up and leave you with
a few quotes from the New Testament which gave us our perspective
on life and pop culture since the beginning of this venture.
Nothin' like the breath of God . . . .
" All these died in faith, before
receiving any of the things that had been promised, but they
saw them in the far distance and welcomed them, recognizing that
they were only strangers and nomads on earth. People who use such terms
about themselves make it quite plain that they are in search
of their real homeland . . . that is why God is not ashamed to
be called their God, since he has founded the city for them." (letter to the Hebrews, 11:13-15,16b)
". . . whatever is true, whatever
is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
-- think about such things." (Paul's letter
to the Philippians, 4:8)
As I said, check back to this site every
once in awhile for any new developments, and give the kids at
Fineprintmag.com
a chance, which is where I'll be continuing my Christianity Deconstructed
column (among other things), and where some of ST's other writers
may be popping up as well. Also keep your ears and eyes peeled
for a book I'm editing with Kyle Minor, featuring the best online
and original writings by the gen x faith underground.
For those who missed last issue's letter with the reasons for
ending Stranger Things Mag, go here.
josh spencer
editor/producer
Stranger Things Mag
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