I've lived here at the community with Marsha, my wife, since its founding in 2003. I serve in various ways from pastoral care to landscape maintenance; from coffee brewing to bar keeping.
"The Ruined" are those countless ones throughout the ages who have encountered the presence of the living God to such an extent that they are "ruined" for the things of this world. They can never return for any extended time to what was formerly known as "normal life." They are
burned with a vision of the beauty of God in the face of Christ-- and
they seek this in everyone and everything they meet.
That’s why I love Annie Dillard. She takes us on a walk, showing us the whole world and life explained. And then drops us off back into the mystery.
Yeah she does. I’m going to have to add another one of her books to my reading list this coming year.