The half-open oven is in front of me with a cheesecake within. I opted out of the first batch of walkers to stay home and finish the baking process. I don't mind--there is sunlight through the window behind me and the smell of a west coast spring coming through the open door. One of my favorite people is sleeping on the couch in the other room. We've been looking forward to this week for a long time.
When pressure and duties and deadlines and the unceasing gamut of needs walks through our office door and then out again, we look at each other and simultaneously think "California."
We're not live for tomorrow sort of people, she and I. We're both definitely take it as it comes sort of girls. We like today and we like it best, or at least better than anything else within our limited eyesight. So longing for this week as much as we both have been has been out of character for both of us. But now that we're here, and things are green and quiet and slow, at least at 937 Middle Ave, we're very happy to be take it as it comes sort of people again.
Today is her birthday, hence the cheesecake in the oven, and I'm so glad to be here with her. Today as I drove circles around the grocery store parking lot, keeping the beautiful boy in the backseat asleep, we talked about how very hard some things are--being here, and realizing that in a bigger way, keeps me remembering how hard it is to be a place where even though you know people, people don't know you. It's hard to not be known.
Today, as a gift for visiting a new church, we three were given Starbucks gift cards! I slip this piece of information in my back pocket and begin to think of other ways we can bless the new folks who walk through the door at the place I call home.
The more I think about it, though, the more I realize that what really keeps us coming back isn't the free doughnuts in the hospitality room, or the Starbucks coffee served downstairs. It isn't the great worship team or the amazing preaching. It can't be the meet and greet time where the marathon goal of half the church body is to meet a new person.
What keeps us coming back is that through those doors, and thank the Lord even outside those doors, there is this very real sense of belonging and being. There is this deep seeded knowledge that these people know me, they sit behind me on Sunday and watch me worship, or not worship. They tap my shoulder and give me a word of encouragement. They beckon from the front row and tell me to sit with them. They lean down and grab my hand and say that I belong.
I think that's the thing about the body of Christ that keeps us coming back. It's easy to fit in anywhere, it's easy to succeed anywhere, it's easy to make an impression anywhere--it is, really, try it. Really try it, you'll do it. But it isn't easy to know that no matter what I belong here. That even if I don't fit in anywhere else, even if I fail at everything I put my hand to, and even if no one anywhere is impressed with me--I can still come home. And belong.
The cheesecake is done. And so am I. This post isn't anything really, just a little update on today's brief thoughts.
When pressure and duties and deadlines and the unceasing gamut of needs walks through our office door and then out again, we look at each other and simultaneously think "California."
We're not live for tomorrow sort of people, she and I. We're both definitely take it as it comes sort of girls. We like today and we like it best, or at least better than anything else within our limited eyesight. So longing for this week as much as we both have been has been out of character for both of us. But now that we're here, and things are green and quiet and slow, at least at 937 Middle Ave, we're very happy to be take it as it comes sort of people again.
Today is her birthday, hence the cheesecake in the oven, and I'm so glad to be here with her. Today as I drove circles around the grocery store parking lot, keeping the beautiful boy in the backseat asleep, we talked about how very hard some things are--being here, and realizing that in a bigger way, keeps me remembering how hard it is to be a place where even though you know people, people don't know you. It's hard to not be known.
Today, as a gift for visiting a new church, we three were given Starbucks gift cards! I slip this piece of information in my back pocket and begin to think of other ways we can bless the new folks who walk through the door at the place I call home.
The more I think about it, though, the more I realize that what really keeps us coming back isn't the free doughnuts in the hospitality room, or the Starbucks coffee served downstairs. It isn't the great worship team or the amazing preaching. It can't be the meet and greet time where the marathon goal of half the church body is to meet a new person.
What keeps us coming back is that through those doors, and thank the Lord even outside those doors, there is this very real sense of belonging and being. There is this deep seeded knowledge that these people know me, they sit behind me on Sunday and watch me worship, or not worship. They tap my shoulder and give me a word of encouragement. They beckon from the front row and tell me to sit with them. They lean down and grab my hand and say that I belong.
I think that's the thing about the body of Christ that keeps us coming back. It's easy to fit in anywhere, it's easy to succeed anywhere, it's easy to make an impression anywhere--it is, really, try it. Really try it, you'll do it. But it isn't easy to know that no matter what I belong here. That even if I don't fit in anywhere else, even if I fail at everything I put my hand to, and even if no one anywhere is impressed with me--I can still come home. And belong.
The cheesecake is done. And so am I. This post isn't anything really, just a little update on today's brief thoughts.
posted by Lore at 16.3.08
3 Comments:
I always love your brief thoughts. Probably 'cause I love you.
Keep them coming.
I thought you called me today nad I missed it. Then i realized it was some other friend with a first name that starts with L. And for that brief second after realizing it hadn't been you after all, I missed you to the point of tears.
Cause sometimes i do that to myself.
"where even though you know people, people don't know you. It's hard to not be known"
So very true. Thanks for your honest thoughts and willingness to share. It was an encouragement to me today.
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