Conspiring Together

Today was spent at Bethany Community Church in the Greenlake area of North Seattle conspiring about the kingdom of God. The morning kicked off with some acoustic worship that pushed some edgy thoughts like "When Jesus says to sell everything, does he mean have a garage sale in the front lawn or to have a garage sale of the junk that stands in place of God?" How about a passage from Isaiah 58.6-12:

"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

"If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.

The morning session I sat in on was with Mike and titled Friar with a Mission. Friars are portable monks. They establish community in the geographical area where they are sent, but live as ones without a permanent home. Traditionally friars could be moved at any time to a new location as the larger church deemed necessary. As one who has shifted communities of people and often locations 5 times in the last 3 years, it was affirming to hear someone healthfully living out a similar style. Mike spoke of the contemplative life as a disciplined way of tending to a relationship with God by solemnly promising to show up and be present for that relationship. I learned this back in college, but have lost it over time as I've found myself fearful of hearing, seeing, experiencing, etc. what God wants to say to me or how God wants to spend time with me. In Mike's words I found a taste of God's freeing ways for which I have been thirsting.

The afternoon session was with Dwight from Mars Hill Graduate School who addressed the topic The Dance of the Established and Emerging Churches. This session challenged me to be more open and gracious to those around me; to let go of bitterness, anger and pride in order to receive an outpouring of grace with open hands. It's easy to tear apart what has injured you or not been sufficient for you. I was raised in an established, traditional church. While they severely neglected me and did not really nurture my faith, this is where my faith life began and part of what has shaped me to be the person I am today. No human is an island unto themselves and to sever my deepest roots would deprive me of some of the richest nutrients from God. Somewhere in the dialogue I found an invitation to open and engaging conversation with people who are "other" to me.

Today was inspiring and energizing. I conversed with people taking risks in ministry and pushing the edges with groups of people who could just as easily turn inward and celebrate their small club until it dies off. Today I was reminded that life is richer when we share and make space for each other. Today I was reminded that there is room at the table for me, but I need to share and make space too.

How are you conspiring to make tangibly present the kingdom of God in this world?