Where in the world?

For those of you who don't know me, I am an AVID traveller.  I have a hard time staying in one location too long.  This month has been a month of travel, vacation, and exploration.

My first stop was Augusta, GA, my birthplace and home of my sponsor church, Reid Memorial Presbyterian.

"Home" is a very interesting concept, relative to the individual.  I admit, I often feel most at home while on the road, visiting friends that know me well.  I find it difficult to tie down this concept to one particular location.  Even Augusta has become a different place for me at this point in life.  Family and a few friends remain as my draw to home, but beyond that, I'm left seeking out other friends and experiences I can consider home as well.  Where is home for you?

One thing I LOVE about home is the lake.  We take our boat up on occasion to the lake to escape.  Floating out in the middle of nowhere on glassy smooth water is a GREAT way to clear the head after being in a city for so long.  Since I've been back I've felt much more centered and full of energy.  I credit a lot of it to being able to clear my head and relax in moments like these.

Amidst my inability to remain stagnant, I received a very welcoming reception at my home church.  I was greeted very warmly by people I have grown up with and people I barely know.  There is a clear love and appreciation for me and my work, despite my inability to be present to them.  This means a lot whether they realize it or not.

After some time in ATL and a wedding, I was off to Presbyterian Triennium at Purdue University in Indiana.  I was a small group leader as well as booth facilitator for Broad Street Ministry.

The theme was "Such a time as this," based of the Esther story.  What was driven home was the importance of standing up for our beliefs on behalf of others, despite the risks we may face.  We are guided and supported by God as was Esther when she stood up for her people.  This theme brought up many raw stories in my small group, stories about being too afraid to stand up for someone and not being stood up for.  I was reminded of how much pain high school youth carry with them and don't often have opportunities to express or share with others.

I was surprised at the openness of youth to come up to our BSM booth at the exhibit hall.  When I went to those things, I would go straight for the "free stuff," not even caring about what was being exhibited.  I had youth from all over the nation really interested in the life and work of BSM.  There was a lot of desire to do unique mission trips, something I don't remember as fondly from my youth.  I'm hoping this is a trend that is staying!

My favorite quote: "Is it true that you guys are a 'church for hipsters' (loose quote from a news article about bsm we give out)?  If so, I think I'd like to go there!" I was like...um...in some ways, yes!

Even though I'm an extreme extrovert, I was WORN OUT by the end of this week - a lot of talking!

So here I am, back at BSM for the time being, in my last month :(

I'll keep you all updated more as I make the home sprint and begin to make my final evaluations.  peace!

My Toy Story 3 reflections (spoilers!)

Just got back from seeing Toy Story 3, and my face is officially rocked off.  It totally lives up to the hype, so don't think that hearing too much about it will ruin your experience!

I feel led to give a little theological reflection on the movie so feel free to read ahead, but BEWARE, i'm throwing out spoilers left and right.  I highly encourage you to SEE THE MOVIE first!  Seriously go see it.  I'm not responsible for ruining the movie for you!  You've been warned!
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ok we're safe (granted I know some of you will ignore my warning and read on!).

To me, this movie is structured around a theology of belonging.  The toys belong to Andy, to their owner.  They bear his mark (woody and buz's shoes).  This means they have a responsibility to be there for Andy no matter what.  It's not a perfect metaphor, because Andy is in no means perfect and sovereign.  Andy also grows up over time.  However, I do believe in a God that suffers and experiences life along with us.  In this way, we belong to God and one another.

Andy has to leave, to go to college, leaving the toys behind.  This moment expresses itself early on when the toys are coming to grips with the fact that they are no longer being played with.  Are they not loved anymore?  The toys are left to fend for themselves, eventually ending up at a day care center (kind of on accident).

The main antagonist is introduced at this day care center - an evil stuffed bear who was lost by his owner and ended up at this day care - taking over with a mob-like structure.  Out of a sense of loss and abandonment, this bear was turned to evil (out of the circumstances that shaped him).

Escaping this facility requires the relationships the main toys have to one another and the guiding thought of their belonging to Andy.  This journey eventually leads them to a confronting of mortality in the garbage smelter.  In the face of their demise, they still recognize their loyalty to one another.

Through this adversity and a miracle, the gang makes it back to Andy.

The true power (and tearjerking) of this movie emerges in the final scene as Andy's packed car is ready to go to college.  He (through the cunning of Woody) takes the box of the gang of toys to a little girl's house.  Then, in a moment that sums up the full experience of being a child of God, Andy plays with each toy as he introduces them to the little girl, naming them one by one.  His love for each and every one of them is evident as he passes them along to someone he is confident will take care of them and love them as he did (Take care of my sheep).  Andy does not abandon those he loves.  He acknowledges their value and passes them on.  This process is much greater than he imagined, made evident in his hesitation to give away Woody.  However, he knows its the right thing to do.

This is who we are and what we are called to.  If we truly believe we are loved by God, we are called to pass that love on to one another, no matter what the time or circumstance.  We are never to give up on one another.   And at the end of the day, we have nothing left but gratitude, made evident in Andy's teary eyed "thanks guys" as he gets in his car to move along.

This year at BSM, I have experienced what it looks like for people who are neglected and abused by society to find a place where they experience belonging and love.  Our belonging is not determined by how we look or live.  It's a fact that we ALL hold in common - we are children of God and our love is made evident in our living.

We belong to one another and at the end of the day should have nothing but gratitude for one another.  This gratitude means that in the face of great adversity we can gift each other with the presence of others, with community, especially down to the most neglected members of our society.

Thanks Guys.