Roll call.

Who and what is here?

If there's one big takeaway I can already claim from the spring break trip that started it all, it's the inspiration to keep my eyes wide open. Every street, every building, every neighbor has a story, and we can learn from them all.

Our current world--and the relationships among its people and environment--does not reflect God's original design. But it all leans in longing for redemption, and I think we can learn something from the direction of its leaning. All people were made in the image of God so it's crucial that we include all people in our pursuit of God.

We live in Rogers Park, the northernmost neighborhood in Chicago, right along the lake. I've already learned a lot about it by living here since 2009. It's a truly fascinating community. Jake was afforded an inside look when he actually collected Census data in our neighborhood last summer! During his training, he learned that we have one of the most diverse zip codes in the nation.

According to the 2000 data, our community is 

31% white, 29% black, 27% hispanic, 6% Asian, 4% other. 

Those "others" include our many new immigrant neighbors, as our community is a major entrance city for foreigners.

But more than nationality ... Rogers Park has apartments, single family homes, nursing homes, a university with dorms, condos and hospitals! That's pretty stellar when you think about it.

While perusing the RPCC web site, Jake and I delved into this together. It's really revealing of the community. We were excited to see some familiar faces on the pages, and we definitely learned a few new things.

These people have tracked the attendance of whos and whats in our community for a while now:


I highly encourage all of you take a closer look at who lives amongst you.

So, do tell, who and what is in your neighborhood?

Greater things.

I have long heard about the racism and injustice that continues to exist in our world today. It continues in our own county, and even on my city block. But knowledge is only half the equation. It isn't the point to simply know things.

I had a life-changing experience last week when I joined my students on an urban project in an under-resourced neighborhood of our city. I heard the stories of people who experience racism and injustice daily. These people became my friends and I felt for them. I went in believing I should serve and aid others, and came out understanding that I need these people just as desperately. Because all people are made in the image of God.

It breaks God's heart when His creation fights with itself internally. It did not honor God when my friend M worked harder than any of the other waitresses and her boss made racial slurs toward her. It does not honor God when my friend L gets pulled  over on the same stretch of highway nearly every time she wears her hair natural and big, instead of relaxed. And it's not okay that this happens in our city.

God did not create the world to function in this brokenness, and I see the real ways He is working to repair our earth. I don't want to miss out on what God is doing to restore our city!

I want this blog space to be about waiting expectantly for the greater things that have yet to come. Because I long to see the day when there are no more tears on this earth, only praise.

I want to use this blog to inspire thought and emotion in others, most specifically in other white folks, because that is the experience I can speak from. And I deeply hope the conversation here inspires people of all ethnicities and cultures!

I need to use this blog to keep myself accountable and inspired. I need to use this blog to process what I am learning, hearing and seeing.

I need to learn more, and I need to feel more.

Will you do this with me?
Welcome to my neighborhood!

      Mourning the murder of Jesus, and celebrating His resurrection should take more than 3 days. At least I think so. That's why I observe lent. Either by taking on a new spiritual discipline, or deciding to fast from something, the hope is that each day leans a little stronger in the direction of anticipation.


That's what I've learned in liturgy; anticipation. In all things, at all times.
Contentment for now, and anticipation in the bigger picture.


      My Lenten devotional reading today was that horrible story from Genesis 39.
      

      I really don't like this story because I despise blackmail and lying. I despise evil tainting what is good. While lamenting this story, it was revealed to me that this is the story of man. This is the story of the garden of Eden and this story continues today!


      In the beginning, God created people and gave them dominion over the earth to care for it and make culture. God gave them everything they needed and more. Yet, evil still found a way to dangle in front of their eyes the one thing people couldn't have (for God decided it was not good.) And that is what happened to Joseph. His master entrusted everything to him, yet evil still found a way to tempt him.


      In the present, God's people have grace and forgiveness (everything we need) and we have spiritual authority. Our master has entrusted much to us. Yet, evil still finds a way to dangle before us the things God has decided are not good for us. Often, we say yes to those things and hurt ourselves.


      It sounds crazy in this light, in light of history and seeing all we've been given. 
Why in the world would we say yes to what evil tries to offer us, when the Creator of Good has already given us everything we need?! We are bizarre. I am bizarre.


      In this day, I am realizing much of life is heavy on what we say "yes" to, and to what we say "no." I am seeing a theme of authority in all of this; God's authority, our authority, and evil's fake authority. Evil is what tries to convince us that what God has entrusted to us is not enough; it offers us the exact opposite of what we need.


      Jake and I are fasting from music this lent. Music is good, God loves music, but Jake and I often use it to distract ourselves and fill space. This lent, we are saying "no" to distraction and mindlessness, and "yes" to prayerful attention to how the Spirit is moving.


( PS: If I were listening to music these days, it would be this: http://www.myspace.com/allthebrightlightsmusic )

I am so proud of this guy tonight. He really inspires me. It makes my heart warm.

When I finally stepped outside, I immediately felt like Elijah crawling out of the cave.

The wind had increased drastically since my walk earlier in the morning. The wind wildly pushed my hair across my face. And even though I was stepping outside, I felt like I was walking into my home. I was walking into history. I was profoundly aware of my connection to the story of the relationship between an earth and its God.

As Elijah waited to hear from God, "a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD."
And next comes the still small voice.

This week I am been stunned at the idea that our creator, the one who made us, the one who saved us from slavery in egypt, the one who sent us a savior, that He still lives. He still pursues this world, His masterpiece.

Sometimes I get on the train and I am overwhelmed at the thought of how much God loves every single soul in the train car. So much so that I love them too! And I get excited. And I can't understand how much more God loves everyone.

As I waited to hear from God, on the porch this morning in fierce wind and pale yellow light, I thought, "probably we're on the brink of something big."