We stopped at the “Common Grounds Cafe” in Lancaster, New Hampshire today where Dale Martin told us I was the first presidential candidate to stop at his establishment “since John Edwards almost came here.” (Leading up to the New Hampshire Primary earlier this year, Edwards was scheduled to come to the Cafe, but last minute wasn’t able to.) Over a cup of coffee, Martin told me he was a member of the “12 Tribes,” a Christian Community of people living together in three houses here and sharing everything in common — because that’s how the Bible says to do it. (There are 12 Tribe Communities worldwide.) The community members pray, eat, exercise, raise children, work… together. They, for instance, own the Cafe and a number of other businesses throughout town. We spent the day touring their facilities, sharing stories and praying together. I told the local Coos County Democrat newspaper I was quite impressed with the camaraderie, the atmosphere of prayer and, well, the love that seems to be here. I was also left with the question (one I’ve thought about often): If the Bible says so clearly that this was how the early Christians were meant to live: why did that ever change? The next day we went to Jefferson, New Hampshire to catch up with some of the 12 Tribe Community members who had taken their children swimming in a rather isolated pond here. They don’t want their children exposed to the immodesty of modern public swimming venues. What’s more, the women and girls ‘swim wear’ consists of quite modest, sort of puffy pants that come down to almost mid-calf, and quite modest t-shirts and the like, the men and boys wear long shorts and keep their t-shirts on even in the water. Our children dress likewise when they are swimming, and for the first time in quite some time on the road, our family didn’t feel out of place. What’s more, I can’t tell you how much respect I had for these parents and their concern, not so much for their childrens’ fashion statements — as their childrens’ souls.
