I know that blogging is sort of like public journaling, but when the whole world can read your thoughts, some censorship occurs. I know that most times blogs are a place to put down thoughts, ideas, and opinions, but I feel that sometimes blogs are more like essays to unknown readers. So this week, in my public journal, I am going to give you a copy of my private journal entry.
6/22
This weekend was the camping trip with the kids. It was an awesome experience and a ton of fun. I got to bond a lot more with some of the younger kids, and I was able to spend some time with my street leaders outside of a work environment. I truly felt like a camp counselor by the end. I spend most of the time in the lake, with small boys hanging off me begging to be dunked, spun, or pulled along. I loved it when Jevon came up to me to show me the frog he had caught, and when Erika became attached to me and asked to go out on a canoe together. I got to show the kids how to set up tents, and by the time we were done, Kamari was telling me how to do it!
My best memory from the trip was at night, after everyone had gone to bed. There were not enough tents for everyone, so Kim and I volunteered to sleep outside under the stars. And such stars! It was a beautiful warm night, and with a perfectly clear sky. With the openness of the lake and the darkness of the countryside, my entire vision was filled with stars. It was difficult to pick out constellations because there were so many. That night Kim and I just laid on our backs along the shoreline and took in the view. We even saw a couple shooting stars! Sometimes, when I look at the sky I feel small, or insignificant. I am humbled by the vastness of the universe and the smallness of my life in comparison to all of space and time. But this night, as I looked up, I felt enveloped and embraced, like I was a piece and an important piece of God's magnificent creation. No art, no song, and no work of man can compare to the perfection of nature.
Then Sunday night, at East End, a sermon was given that would never be heard in suburbia or my hometown. It was a Father's Day sermon, about the importance of a father figure, especially in this area where many fathers are absent or uninvolved. He called for men of this community to step up and be positive role models for our young people. I loved how the pastor openly addressed the issue of fatherhood and the lack of it. These kids need fathers, especially those whoare living in The Father's image. Not only did the pastor address this issue, which in itself would never be heard in a suburban church, but then he called out to the men of the congregation to be role models and fathers to the fatherless. He literally asked for those willing to lead and direct young lives to stand up and present themselves. He then told the congragation to look at these people and hold them accountable to their committment. This also would be a rare event in many churches I have attended.
I love the openness, the accountability, and the committment of this community. It is so refreshing and encouraging to see people actually living the Word. As the pastor said, church should not be something that happens to us on Sunday. We should BE the Church, all the time. Here at CHAT and at East End I have met people who take something that is usually only prayed and preached aobut, and turn it into action. This is Faith and the Church as it should be, a living, acting, loving, involved community. I am so grateful to be a part of this and to be able to learn from such wonderful models. What I see here gives me hope for the city of Richmond and "the least of these."
