The Burning Nun

It has taken us five years, but Holly and I have finally found something to do in Huntsville! We were told about this place called the "Burning Nun" a couple of months ago but have not been able to go, until last night. The Burning Nun is actually the upstairs floor of an old mill right next to the downtown rescue mission. It consists of a really cool bookstore, with loft space for reading, game tables, and everything else that you could possibly imagine finding in an underground bookstore. Surrounding the bookstore, and the pathway to get to the bookstore, are artist spaces that are separated by chain link fence. There are two art galleries that are operating next to the library as well. The main library portion of the Burning Nun reminded me a great deal of a merger between the downstairs "underground" and upstairs poetry room of City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. (Man I would love to go back there.)

Underneath the Burning Nun is this place called "Flying Monkey Arts." This is actually where we spent most of our time last night. This area includes a wooden stage with a really cool red mosaic curtain behind it. Surrounding the stage were couches and such filled with people we could actually relate to (except for the guy who channeled Indian spirits, not to sure about him). The night was a wonderful evening of spoken word poetry, short stories, and music. We went expecting an evening of spoken word poetry - a poetry slam for all of you literary with it people out there, but the mosaic of styles was quite refreshing.

There was something refreshingly real about being there. We heard many different subjects talked about last night (after all, the reading was published for "mature audiences only." You do the math) but there was an underlying theme of the supernatural that tied everything together. Whether it was the one who was aware of God in the midst of their mother dying, or the one aware of God in relation to injustice in the world - no one could get away from it. It was refreshing to see God in the midst of everyday life and situations. It was refreshing to see people who "don't get God" actually "get God" in a way that many in the Church do not. I am not saying that people there were "saved" but they had a perspective on God that was hard to get away from. The Church has done itself a great disservice by tossing such creative individuals out on the street. There is a lot to be learned from each other...so as for the house I live in, we will serve the Lord, and be back at the Burning Nun for the film festival next week!