I've moved! For the latest blog updates, go to http://christiancoon.tumblr.com/. For my posts from 2007-2009, check out www.genxrev.com.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Moving again
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Staying put at the Field
I was a sophomore when I made my second trip to the Field Museum. My high-school choir made the 4-hour trip to Chicago for a couple of performances and one of our side trips included a visit to that venerable institution with the woolly mammoths and mummies. I can't remember how much time we had, but I know I raced from this exhibit to that exhibit trying to take in as much as I could while also trying to impress a girl who was a junior. When we were done, I was talking to one of our chaperones (a science teacher) and asked what his favorite part of the museum. It turns out he never left the ancient Egyptian area. I couldn't believe it. He only stayed in one exhibit? I felt kind of sorry for him.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Simple faith
I received an interesting text from my cell phone provider last night. Feeling overwhelmed by the number of applications out there? it asked. Go to this web site to help sort it it out. So I did. And felt even more confused. On the left of the page, I could "Browse by Category" (there were 17 categories). In the center, one block offered "Recommendations" and another "Apps in the News" and another "Hot Apps" and another "Price Cuts" and there were at least five other blocks I could have perused. So much for simplicity.
So many of us feel overwhelmed by life in general and our culture continues to give us an endless amount of opportunities to stay connected, learn more, improve ourselves. It's easy to feel that way about faith, too, especially if we're just starting out or renewing our search after time away. Where do we start?
One of my mantras in recent months consists of three words: I breathe deeply and tell myself, "Slow down. Simiplify." Every morning when I wake up, I focus on this particular day and give thanks for it. God has given me, for example, October 26, 2011. I will never again have the gift of this particular day. And I am thankful. When I feel a wave of anxiety about all the things I have to do during the day, I break it down even more. I have been given this hour between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. I can handle focusing on this hour. This is a gift. And I am thankful. I've been known to then break that down into 15-minute increments sometimes! For me, this is more than just a simple time management skill. It's prayer. It's a way for me to be reminded of the abundance of life and the strong and constant presence of God. One moment at a time. |
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Warming up to teaching
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Figuring each other out
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Does it stay or should it go?
Do they have a show on TLC or HGTV that focuses on redecorating your garage? Maybe, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t be as popular as transforming your kitchen or bedroom. Popular or not, that’s where my wife and I were on Monday, in our garage with a lot of hardware from The Container Store contemplating the possibilities of creating more space. One of the first tasks in this process, of course, is taking stock of what we have and deciding what to keep, what to donate, what to trash. Snorkeling gear we bought for our honeymoon? Keep, because you just never know when we’ll go to the Cayman Islands again. Guitar I bought more than 20 years ago? Donate, as much as I’d like to think I’ll play again in the near future. Old intercom? Trash. Why were we keeping that around anyway?
Not all of the decisions are easy. We have sentimental attachments to our stuff and it’s hard to let go. As we got to work, it didn’t take long for me to to start reflecting on other kinds of stuff I store in my head and heart (when you’re a professional religious person, you tend to see metaphors in lots of places).
There are more than a few things I wish I could let go of, donate, or trash. I sometimes hold onto grudges way too long. I wish I could more easily trash petty annoyances that eat at me. Of course, there are other things I’m happy to keep. The days when I’m able to slow down, be attentive to each moment, and take in the wondrousness of God’s creation. The instances when I’m aware of a holy courage that enables me to overcome fear.
It’s helpful to take stock of this stuff in our souls—even on a daily basis—and ask for God’s help to have the wisdom to know what to hold onto and what to let go of. It’s not easy. We can become attached to our shortcomings (or, in more theological language, our sins). But when we say good-bye to these behaviors and attitudes, it leaves more room for things like love, forgiveness, grace, and kindness. And that’s a reorganization worth going through.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
A reminder from Glee
I know I'm late in jumping on the "Glee" bandwagon, but, thanks Netflix, my wife and I have been making our way through Season 1 this summer (I think we're through eight episodes so far).
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Friday, July 29, 2011
Is God stupid?
Friday, July 22, 2011
Missing cornfields
At our staff meeting on Tuesday, we were reflecting on our comfort soul food--those books, places, spiritual disciplines that we fall back on when we're in need of a faith boost. Brittany, our associate pastor who's heading up our Andersonville launch and who also grew up in downstate Illinois, said that one thing that she misses is cornfields. I knew exactly what she meant.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Let me see again
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Welcome back
There are long to-do lists when starting a new church, but some of the instructions are quite simple. One of the first "rules" is this: Join stuff.
I must confess I've never been a big joiner, but if you want to meet people and let them know about this new church you're helping to start, you've got to be a part of groups. So I started joining all kinds of groups, including a running club. Even though I've been a runner most of my life, I've never joined a running club preferring, instead, to be solitary when putting in my miles. But I showed up one Wednesday morning at 6 a.m. and stuck with it. It wasn't easy. People already knew one another so I felt like an outcast initially, but I kept showing up and people eventually started talking and getting to know me. Last summer, I started in with the group again, but a few weeks into it, I had some changes to my schedule and I couldn't go for a few weeks. Then we went on vacation. And then it just felt awkward to go back. Would they remember me? It was easier just to go back to my solitary running ways.
How similar this is to our faith lives! We get into the groove of prayer, worship, community connection, but something throws us off and other things take priority and we start wondering whether God or a church would even want us back or remember us. Frankly, we'd rather bypass the awkwardness and just put our faith on hold.
Which is why the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)--as familiar as it may be to some--is always a great passage to read and reflect on. A wayward son insults his father, leaves home, falls on hard luck, debates a return, and comes home. And when he does, there are no questions from the father and, as far as I can tell, not much awkwardness. There is only embrace.
If you wonder whether you can ever return to faith or church, read that story. And hear God's resounding answer: Yes. Always.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Counting to 60
Our son is at the age where everything seems to take fooorrrreeeevvvver. When he asks how long he has to wait for something he'd rather not be waiting for and I tell him, for example, "Oh, 15 minutes," he'll reply, "How many times do I have to count to 60?" Kindergartners know their seconds and minutes.
I always find it interesting that time seemingly stands still for children and yet rushes by for adults. Over and over we hear (and experience) the challenge of trying to fit everything into the 24 hours we've been given. Lately, though, I've been helped by the experience of counting to 60. It's amazing what can happen.
When I close my eyes and count to 60, I can take 10 really deep breaths, which slows me down and reminds me of the nearness of God's breath.
When I count to 60, I can bring forth a wonderful memory of one of our favorite places to go in the summer (Pentwater, Michigan) and hear the waves rush to the shore.
When I count to 60, I can replay in my head a wonderful song I just downloaded ("The 23rd Psalm" by Bobby McFerrin).
When I count to 60, I can make a good start on a list of things for which I'm grateful.
When I count to 60, I can reflect on an issue that is important to me (like ending hunger).
That's five minutes. After only five minutes, I've experienced a pretty great prayer. What can you come up with if you stop, close your eyes, take deep breaths, and count to 60? Even if you only do it once, I believe you may begin to see time not as something you wrestle with, but something you receive as God's gift. |