Disorientation

We had an interesting conversation at my small group Tuesday night about city life. Caelyn Randall started the ball rolling as she talked about the disorienting influences that confront us when we live in the city. We then talked about the things in peoples' lives that might reorient them--being a part of a group, for example, or a person's vocation. But then people started talking about how sometimes things in city life that may seem disorienting (like sirens or traffic noise) really can make us feel at home. Some noted it's when they're in remote and quiet places when they really feel freaked out!

Seemingly disorienting things, then, can make us feel oriented, connected, home. I like that. I think God does, too. The Message translation of Genesis 1:1-2 goes like this: "First this: God created the Heavens and Earth--all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness." From the beginning, then, God created life out of disorientation.

On days (even weeks) when I feel out of sorts and/or aimless, this is comforting to know I can orient myself around a God who thrives on creating amazing things out of disorientation.

Consider the raven?

Emily Dickinson once said that "consider the lilies is the only Commandment I have ever obeyed." I've always liked that quote for a number of reasons, especially because I'm always trying to "notice" and "consider" things myself. What's not to like about considering lilies (check out Luke 12:22-31)?

As I was reading those verses this morning, though, a part of the passage jumped out at me: "Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them." This comes before the lilies part.

Consider the ravens? I have totally missed that in the past. The only time when I even think about ravens is when I hear about Edgar Allan Poe (which isn't often) or think about the NFL variety (Baltimore's team is named the Ravens). So I decided to do what Jesus said.

Have you ever considered a raven? I hadn't. I knew they looked a little like crows, but when I started looking up images, I must confess, I wasn't exactly impressed. It's certainly not a colorful bird and its beak looks a little big for its face. But I still like this commandment that Jesus gives because the world is not all lilies. We are called to consider all of God's creation and recognize that God can be active and moving in all parts of it. Even the nondescript creatures. I'm not sure if this is what Jesus meant when he said this, but I'd like to think he would be intrigued with where I went with it.

Hoping it gets more crowded

There are a few times when I hope the location I'm at becomes more crowded. Church is one. And...the other would be...still thinking...not quite sure I can come up with another example. I know that businesses need to be busy in order to stay open, but I kind of like it when the movie theater, museum, and/or restaurant is empty. I want them to be busy, but not when I'm there. Which is crazy to say when you live in downtown Chicago.

But I'm sitting here in a local cafe in my neighborhood and it's an answer to prayer. I've been hoping for a place like this. The South Loop has a lot of chain stores. There's a huge Target, Home Depot, Whole Foods, and Jewel. There's a cramped Starbucks and a Potbelly's and a Subway and, of course, a Dunkin Donuts. But no local coffee shop/diner where I can hang out. Until now.

Donna's Cafe just opened a couple weeks ago and the people are simply fantastic. I ordered a tea and a cookie a half hour ago and as I was enjoying this, the woman at the counter said, "Pssst!" I looked up and she motioned for me to come to her. "I just took these out of the oven," she whispered, and she pushed another cookie toward me. A little later, another person came by and offered to refill my tea. This kind of hospitality is rare in these parts.

But I sit here alone. I want Donna's to stay open so, for her sake, I won't mind sitting in a crowded cafe.

Showing up

I just came across a quote from Philip Yancey that said that 90 percent of prayer is simply showing up. I really like that.

It goes along with my belief in the Woody Allen quote that 80 percent of life is just showing up as it relates to church planting (though I'm clearly not saying that Woody Allen necessarily cares about church planting). So much of planting is just being present in lots and lots of different places. I don't have to say anything profound or have all the answers. I just need to be there.

I hope this also applies to parenting. Most days I play with the kids sometime during the 5pm-6:30 pm time slot. Needless to say, I don't have a ton of energy or creativity during this time and I find myself sometimes suggesting we do something like a board game which sometimes works, but other times...not so much.

I do have moments of Creative Parenting, like yesterday when I suggested we pick a letter, get out our cameras and take pictures of things around the house that begin with that letter. Pardon me while I pat myself on the back. But most of the time it's just me showing up, being present, being there. I tend to think that that's quite a lot.