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| I had the privilege of experiencing a Pearl Jam concert this past weekend. I have been a long time fan and there is something amazing that happens when a large number of people gather that share a common passion. There was so much energy at the Van Andel Arena for 3+ hours straight. The whole place was on their feet for the entire show. (Even when the band decided to sit down for an acoustic set)
As I was working in the yard on Saturday (day after the PJ concert) I started to reflect how many memories were brought to mind during the concert. As they sang “Love Boat Captain” I was brought back to the memory of walking out to my truck at 2:00am singing “love boat captain take the reigns and steer us towards the clear” hours after our daughter Abby was born. I was on an amazing high becoming a father for the first time. Then a few songs later they played “Sad” a very rare B side that never made it on a studio release. I could barely sing a long with the lyrics “There is no reason that she passed and there is no God with a plan – It’s Sad - If just one wish could bring her back – It’s Sad” as I remembered screaming and crying along with this song trying to deal with the loss of my daughter Abby’s life.
A few songs later they played “Off He Goes” which brought me back to our wedding day where we danced to this song. As I worked in the yard thinking about all these memories I began to reflect on how God has journeyed with Kath and I and redeemed so many dreams and is healing so many wounds. It was very good for my soul to remember where I have been and just stop and give thanks for the journey. Then it hit me… – was I just experiencing communion? Remembering how faithful God has been, and believing in His way of restoring things. I mean everything is spiritual right? Is it possible to partake in a “communion” in a sense at a Pearl Jam concert? | | |
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Who helps and cares for the poor and needy? This question has been getting quite interesting for me. I have been spending some time every week at Heartside Minitstries getting to know the needy, poor and oppressed. From here on out I will refere to them as "neigbors".
Our modern American culture has done an amazing job of creating organizations to help just about every people group. If you are poor you can apply for food stamps or if your really poor there are places that offer free meals so no one goes hungry. If you are getting older you will probably get an AARP card. The list goes on and on.
In the past I have had the mindset for meeting people's needs to try to point them to the best organization to help them. All the while losing touch with the relational side of compansion. I have found that many of the neighbors spend time going from organization to organziation without developing deep meaningful relationships that would truly get in touch with who they are and what they need. We put all of the weight on the organizations to meet the needs of everyone. So what seems to be happening is people that have amazing hearts that give their lives to helping people through these organizations are burning themselves out because they can't possibly help everyone and their relational needs may be suffering as well. | | |
| Awareness
I have observed in myself that I can be a horrible listener and can be oblivious to things going on around me. My wife will often joke with me or roll her eyes when I mention something new in our neighborhood that apparently has been there for a week or 2 and I have not been aware of it. I have noticed that when I find myself in a conversation with someone who I think is just rambling on, I will tune out and nod my head or mumble to act like I am paying attention. I realize my brain simply cannot retain everything that comes into my senses, but I long to dismiss things that do not matter and hold on to the things that do.
This past Friday I engaged in a conversation with Ernest. I could immediately see and smell that Ernest was intoxicated with either alcohol, drugs or both. His eyes were rolling back and he was mumbling to me with his face turned from me. I understood a few words here and there that went something like - you better not mess with those people because God is going to judge you. He will punish you... God will punish the evil people. It was at this moment that I can choose to tune my awareness on or off. I have a choice. This dude is intoxicated and he is just acting crazy. There is no need to pay attention to anything he has to say. Or I have the choice to enter into where he is at the best I can and just be there with him. After a few minutes of trying to understand Ernest mumble his way he stopped - turned and looked at me with by his eyes on mine and said clearly - "So what I am trying to say is - if your going to f*** with people, f*** with the strong people not with the weak." I heard him at that moment, not as a mumbling intoxicated idiot, but as a hurting desperate human being crying out. Not to mention he made a really good point.
I long to be more aware. Not to be able to fix things or people, but to relate and learn and journey with them. And maybe just maybe the lifestyle changes - a better way of life will start to take root. | | |
| Connecting through a pigskin
I am following the advice of a good friend to post this experience, and hopefully can continue to do so.
A few weeks ago I started spending my Friday afternoons in the Heartside community. This is a place where the marginilized neighbors of downtown Grand Rapids can go to simply gather and/or have opportunities to express their creativity through art & music. This was a stretch for me and pulled me out of my comfort zone. Question’s like what are you really doing this for? How do you plan on connecting with people anyway?... It doesn’t work when it is forced. I found it is very possible to over think the situation.
The weather was absolutely beautiful the first trip to Heartside. I always have a football in my truck, so without even thinking I grabbed it as I left the truck. Before I could even enter the door at Heartside I was greeted by 4 men outside yelling “hey toss the ball over here”. I tossed the ball to a man (He goes by Ivory) with a cane. He dropped his cane to catch the ball and rifled a pass back to me. “AHHH” he gasped “I haven’ thrown a football in years!” It didn’t take long before it turned into 4 sometimes 5 of us tossing the football back and forth across south division. (No worries – there is very little traffic due to construction) This pigskin allowed me to meet 5 amazing men without any effort at all. Nothing forced, it just happened. The weather is beautiful, let’s celebrate today by playing catch.
I am finding that these guys while struggling to make it in the mainstream culture have a culture all of their own. And Kim learning it is quite beautiful. They definitely don’t have much materially but they know, and are known well by their friends. They seem to know how to “be” together.
I have been asked the question several times already “What are you doing here? Is this a project for college? Are you here just for today? I have found it interesting that there is this assumption that I have a project to complete, or am doing a mission project. It is apparently foreign or at least not common to enter into their lives to simply journey with them, with no known end date. | | |
| Pearl Jam with U2
I dreamed that someday it would happen... My 2 favorite bands would play together. Well - it happened on Sept. 19 in Toronto. Eddie Vedder first dropped in at the U2 concert and sang with Bono for a song and then a few nights later, Bono returned the favor by joining Pearl Jam for an amazing version of Neil Youngs "Keep on rockin' in the free world". These men are truly alive and share a passion for bringing out the good in mankind. I would have loved to see this show, but thanks to Pearl Jam's new concert download website I can enjoy it through my speakers.
Keep on rockin' in the free world!
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