Nine years ago today, I was on a Metra train from Aurora to Chicago. On my way to a meeting. A lady above me got a cell phone call - "What, a plane has just crashed into the World Trade Center?" I continued to listen to the details of the situation thus far though her cell phone conversation. Soon, cell phones were ringing all around me. Wondering what was happening and what the significance of the event was, I continued on my journey, through the train terminal, to the bus, to my destination, somewhere near the federal building.
I was representing UIC campus ministry at a meeting, I am not even sure what we talked about at the meeting. It did not seem to matter to any of us. the leader of the meeting pulled out a tv so that we could watch the events on "Good Morning America". somewhere in the middle of the meeting we watched in horror as the first tower fell, and then the second. We prayed, and the meeting seemed to fal apart after that. Not a bad thing, as I went into the lobby, I was informed that the building was closing.
A plan had crashed into the Pentagon, there was another plane that could not be accounted for. Not only were we close to the federal building, but also to the Sears Tower. the state police were blocking off the entire loop. Anyone in the loop was encouraged to leave now and return home.
For the amoung amount of concern amongst us, the evacuation went pretty well. People were told to go home and that was what we did. When I arrived at the train station, trains were not leaving on schedule. as soon as they were filled, they took off. i caught one of those trains back to Aurora.
I was in a daze as I drove home. What did this mean? Does this mean that life as we know it was changing?
somewhere in the chaos of the morning, we found that the other plane had landed in a field in Pennsylvania.
Going home I was worried about my son. He was in middle school. I called to see what was going on with the students, were they safe? did they need to go home? Was he scared of the events of the day? The school assured me the the students were fine and that school would continue as normal.
Once I got home, I undressed and laid on the couch. Something told me that life as I knew it was gone, things had changed the world had changed. i sat on the couch, under teh covers and watched on television as the events of the day unfolded before me.
I learned of the thousands of people who were killed, the thousands of people who were present to help, the relations of America and the Arab world, the desertion and emptiness of downtown.
The next day at Agape House at University of Illinois at Chicago, we tried as best we could to process the vents of the day and what that meant for us as people of faith. (Whatever was happening at that meeting - I never gave it a second thought).
Nine years later still feeling the effects of that day - the anomisity with the Arab world, the inability to understand muslims, the economic downfall, the wondering will life ever return to "normal" - or has the worlds destiny forever been altered?
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
In Search of a Story
Years ago, while working at University Campus Ministry, the director, Jack came to me to share a story. He was preparing for his sermon on sunday, and had checked out a book of stories. This one was of a little girl, who wanted balloons for her birthday. They made her so happy, that her parents did not have the heart to take them away from her.
I have been looking for that story for over 15 years now, and have not been able to find it. Weeks later I asked Jack about the story - and he did not remember what I was talking about.
The real story was that I needed to hear that story. Life was horrible for me, I was very unhappy and tense. As Jack came up to my desk to talk, I didnt want to be bothered with him. I thought it was so lame that he needed to share this corny story with me. I could not share in hs joy of telling the story. It seems that he had been looking for the story for a while, and was overjoyed to have finally found it. Or maybe he just knew that I needed to hear a story about joy.
The real story of that day is the care that he showed me at a time when I was not able to return the sentiment. I really did feel better after that time with him. It really was a cute story.
As a story preacher, I always love a good story. I have been looking for that story for years, i have sometimes come close, but it wasnt quite that story. But I will carry the joy of someone who loves me in my heart forever.
I have been looking for that story for over 15 years now, and have not been able to find it. Weeks later I asked Jack about the story - and he did not remember what I was talking about.
The real story was that I needed to hear that story. Life was horrible for me, I was very unhappy and tense. As Jack came up to my desk to talk, I didnt want to be bothered with him. I thought it was so lame that he needed to share this corny story with me. I could not share in hs joy of telling the story. It seems that he had been looking for the story for a while, and was overjoyed to have finally found it. Or maybe he just knew that I needed to hear a story about joy.
The real story of that day is the care that he showed me at a time when I was not able to return the sentiment. I really did feel better after that time with him. It really was a cute story.
As a story preacher, I always love a good story. I have been looking for that story for years, i have sometimes come close, but it wasnt quite that story. But I will carry the joy of someone who loves me in my heart forever.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Missed Opportunities
School starts for the elementary school across the street at 8:30 am. It is a morning ritual to look out at the window to see the children waiting in a single file line, and walking at exactly at 8:30 am. So the other morning, I watched with interest as two janitors walked out the door to take out the garbage and back into the door. Shortly after they were inside, a car pulled up at 8:47 am. A small child jumped out of the back seat, (he couldnt have been more than first grade). He strategically ran to the door and began to knock. He didnt even check to see if the door was open. He didnt even wait to see if somone had heard his knock. It was as if he knew that was not going to work, but he was instructed to at least try. Just as Quickly as he had jumped out of the car, he got back into the car. The care circled around the corner and took him to the office, where he should have been escorted in the first place. But within a half a minute after the boy was back in the car, the two janitors opened the door to the school and walked in. If the little boy had just had a little faith that someone heard his knock, he would have gotten in the building the first time. Many of us approach opportunity in the same way. We knock, not expecting to be heard, and walk away way too soon. As soon as we are gone the door opens. If we only had a little faith. Jesus says to knock and the door shal be opened.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Chicago Marathon 2009 - edited (500 words)
I don’t remember what the inspiration was for me to set a goal to run in the Chicago Marathon . I have never participated in any sport. 6 years later running is a big part of my life.
Last Sunday I volunteered at the Marathon. As a pastor, showing up for duty at 4:30 am, when I have church at 10 is pretty ambitious. But volunteering on race day is the only way to get a free jacket. My duty was to be a part of a human chain in front of the top 100 runners until the buzzer starts – and then to get out of the way. If the runners are not coordinated and controlled, there will be a major trampling. After the start we all starred in amazement for 30 minutes as the mass of adrenalin snaked forward . As the race progresses for 26.2 miles- many of these people will start to drop out, some injured, some discouraged, some disqualified. But at this moment, they were all winners.
The marathon experience starts two days earlier, as the runners arrive. Some are from Chicago, some from across the country, some from around the world. All of them in ordinary clothes, living ordinary lives, preparing themselves for an extraordinary race. It is not physically possible for the human body to run 26.2 miles. After 20 miles, your body depletes every possible energy reserve. Your mind power enables you to complete the last 6 miles. Yet something in each of their spirits has told them they are up for the challenge – so they show up: pick up their registration material, attend the expo, eat pasta, meet other runners, and show up at the starting line in unpredicatable Chicago weather. Being a part of that experience at any point is enough inspiration to believe that you can achieve anything that you set your mind to.
if I had run, I would have honestly been at the very back of the line, cold, praying for just enough strength to finish at some point in the day. As a volunteer, I was at the very front of the starting line. I got the chance to channel the energy of the best athletes in the country, so they could lead 34,000 runners safely across the start line.
I made it to church on time. In many ways, the benediction is the start line of the race of our Christian journey. The light of Jesus Christ goes before us, and we are told to go forth our into the world. Imagine what would happen if , we ran out of the church with the energy of a marathon runner? How would we transform the world?
1 Corinthians 9:23-25 says “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” For Christians, every day is intended to be a marathon.
Last Sunday I volunteered at the Marathon. As a pastor, showing up for duty at 4:30 am, when I have church at 10 is pretty ambitious. But volunteering on race day is the only way to get a free jacket. My duty was to be a part of a human chain in front of the top 100 runners until the buzzer starts – and then to get out of the way. If the runners are not coordinated and controlled, there will be a major trampling. After the start we all starred in amazement for 30 minutes as the mass of adrenalin snaked forward . As the race progresses for 26.2 miles- many of these people will start to drop out, some injured, some discouraged, some disqualified. But at this moment, they were all winners.
The marathon experience starts two days earlier, as the runners arrive. Some are from Chicago, some from across the country, some from around the world. All of them in ordinary clothes, living ordinary lives, preparing themselves for an extraordinary race. It is not physically possible for the human body to run 26.2 miles. After 20 miles, your body depletes every possible energy reserve. Your mind power enables you to complete the last 6 miles. Yet something in each of their spirits has told them they are up for the challenge – so they show up: pick up their registration material, attend the expo, eat pasta, meet other runners, and show up at the starting line in unpredicatable Chicago weather. Being a part of that experience at any point is enough inspiration to believe that you can achieve anything that you set your mind to.
if I had run, I would have honestly been at the very back of the line, cold, praying for just enough strength to finish at some point in the day. As a volunteer, I was at the very front of the starting line. I got the chance to channel the energy of the best athletes in the country, so they could lead 34,000 runners safely across the start line.
I made it to church on time. In many ways, the benediction is the start line of the race of our Christian journey. The light of Jesus Christ goes before us, and we are told to go forth our into the world. Imagine what would happen if , we ran out of the church with the energy of a marathon runner? How would we transform the world?
1 Corinthians 9:23-25 says “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” For Christians, every day is intended to be a marathon.
Chicago Marathon 2009 - unedited
Now that I think about it, I don’t remember what the inspiration was for me to set a goal to run in the Chicago Marathon in 2003. I was not a runner. I never competed in any type of sports activities in school. I had only just recently even started working out. Maybe I thought that it was a fun way to lose weight. But that was the inspiration for me to start running and working out in hopes to prepare myself to run. I have been running regularly ever since, even became a part of my local runner’s club.
I have not lost much weight in 6 years, but running is still a big part of my life. Last Sunday I volunteered to help with the marathon. As a pastor, showing up for duty at 4:30 am, when I have church at 10 is pretty ambitious. But volunteering on race day is the only way to get a free Chicago Marathon jacket. My duty was to be a part of a human chain, standing in front of the top 100 runners in the race until the starting buzzer starts – and then to get out of the way. That was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It was my job to stand at the starting line, at the very front of the mass of 34,000 runners. If the runners are not coordinated and controlled, the start of the race will be a major trampling experience. If we don’t stand our ground then we will get trampled by the runners, as they scramble to get ahead. And yet we were given the job of channeling the energy of this huge human desire to race and to win. After the buzzer, all 20 of the human chain stepped aside and starred in amazement for 30 minutes as the mass of adrenalin snaked forward past the start line. As the race progresses for 26.2 miles- many of these people will start to drop out of the race, some injured, some discouraged, some disqualified. But at this moment, there destiny didn’t matter. At this moment they were all winners eager to begin the race.
When it was over, I told a friend that volunteering at the marathon was a holy experience which I will have to participate in for a very long time. A fellow runner, she quipped that it is much more important to train and participate in the race, then it is to volunteer. I explained that she doesn’t understand. The Chicago marathon starts on Friday morning as the runners start to arrive in town, some from Chicago, some from across the country, some from around the world. All in ordinary clothes, living ordinary lives, preparing themselves for an extraordinary race. It is not physically possible for the human body to run 26.2 miles. After 20 miles, your body depletes every possible energy reserve that it has. You have to use the determination of your mind to complete the last 6 miles. And yet something in their spirit has told them they are up for the challenge – so they show up: pick up their registration material, attend the expo, eat pasta, meet other runners, and show up at the starting line in unpredicatable Chicago weather; prepared for the challenge. To step into that experience at any point is enough inspiration to believe that you can achieve anything that you set your mind to.
And yet, if I had registered to run, I would have honestly been at the very back of the line, cold, scared, praying for just enough strength to finish at some point in the day. As a volunteer, I was at the very front of the starting line. A place that I would never get on my own. I was in front of the top 100 race qualifiers. Most were either males on a college track team, or very petite internationals – I don’t belong to either group. I got the chance to channel the energy of some of the best athletes in the country, so they would be able to lead 34,000 runners safely across the start line.
I made it to church on time at 10:00 am. During the benediction, I told the congregation about the experience. In many ways, the benediction is the start line of the race of our Christian journey. The light of Jesus Christ goes before us, and after the benediction we are told to go forth our into the world. Imagine what would happen if when we are given the go ahead, we too ran out of the church with the energy of a marathon runner? Determined to run the race of life and win. How would we transform the world in God’s name?
In 1 Corinthians 9:23-25 Paul says Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. In Paul’s advice to us, he uses the metaphor of running a race in spreading the Christian faith. For Christians, every day is intended to be a marathon.
Peace,
I have not lost much weight in 6 years, but running is still a big part of my life. Last Sunday I volunteered to help with the marathon. As a pastor, showing up for duty at 4:30 am, when I have church at 10 is pretty ambitious. But volunteering on race day is the only way to get a free Chicago Marathon jacket. My duty was to be a part of a human chain, standing in front of the top 100 runners in the race until the starting buzzer starts – and then to get out of the way. That was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It was my job to stand at the starting line, at the very front of the mass of 34,000 runners. If the runners are not coordinated and controlled, the start of the race will be a major trampling experience. If we don’t stand our ground then we will get trampled by the runners, as they scramble to get ahead. And yet we were given the job of channeling the energy of this huge human desire to race and to win. After the buzzer, all 20 of the human chain stepped aside and starred in amazement for 30 minutes as the mass of adrenalin snaked forward past the start line. As the race progresses for 26.2 miles- many of these people will start to drop out of the race, some injured, some discouraged, some disqualified. But at this moment, there destiny didn’t matter. At this moment they were all winners eager to begin the race.
When it was over, I told a friend that volunteering at the marathon was a holy experience which I will have to participate in for a very long time. A fellow runner, she quipped that it is much more important to train and participate in the race, then it is to volunteer. I explained that she doesn’t understand. The Chicago marathon starts on Friday morning as the runners start to arrive in town, some from Chicago, some from across the country, some from around the world. All in ordinary clothes, living ordinary lives, preparing themselves for an extraordinary race. It is not physically possible for the human body to run 26.2 miles. After 20 miles, your body depletes every possible energy reserve that it has. You have to use the determination of your mind to complete the last 6 miles. And yet something in their spirit has told them they are up for the challenge – so they show up: pick up their registration material, attend the expo, eat pasta, meet other runners, and show up at the starting line in unpredicatable Chicago weather; prepared for the challenge. To step into that experience at any point is enough inspiration to believe that you can achieve anything that you set your mind to.
And yet, if I had registered to run, I would have honestly been at the very back of the line, cold, scared, praying for just enough strength to finish at some point in the day. As a volunteer, I was at the very front of the starting line. A place that I would never get on my own. I was in front of the top 100 race qualifiers. Most were either males on a college track team, or very petite internationals – I don’t belong to either group. I got the chance to channel the energy of some of the best athletes in the country, so they would be able to lead 34,000 runners safely across the start line.
I made it to church on time at 10:00 am. During the benediction, I told the congregation about the experience. In many ways, the benediction is the start line of the race of our Christian journey. The light of Jesus Christ goes before us, and after the benediction we are told to go forth our into the world. Imagine what would happen if when we are given the go ahead, we too ran out of the church with the energy of a marathon runner? Determined to run the race of life and win. How would we transform the world in God’s name?
In 1 Corinthians 9:23-25 Paul says Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. In Paul’s advice to us, he uses the metaphor of running a race in spreading the Christian faith. For Christians, every day is intended to be a marathon.
Peace,
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Nonviolent Communication
Today, my friend Valencia and I went to the Road to Freedom exhibit at the Field Museum with the Chicago Urban League. Of course it was a moving experience. At powerful way to relive the civil rights movement. The video presentation showed stories of people in the pictures. The protestors often went through training to understand what it meant to respond in a nonviolent way. When people were mean to them, they had to be trained not to respond in a mean way. One woman said that there were a group of people who were spitting at her and calling her names. She asked them if they had a handerkerchief. Her clear request seemed to dispel their anger she said. Why would she ask for a handerkerchief, and why would she expect them to give it to her. But they stopped spitting and left her alone.
Andrew Young commented that the point of nonviolent protest was not to win. There were no winners at all in the process. You don't want to win, you want to transform the relationship. The point is not to win, but the transform the relationship. Nonviolent communication is not a reponse to a situation, but a lifestyle. What a powerful to live.
Our world, our understanding of life is so geared toward winning. What if every gave up the need to win, and instead felt the need to understand one another and live together in peace? My commitment is to give up the need to win, and to live a nonviolent lifestyle. More importantly, teach others to also adopt the pholosophy toward life. Winning also connotes opression, separation, allowing others to lose.
Andrew Young commented that the point of nonviolent protest was not to win. There were no winners at all in the process. You don't want to win, you want to transform the relationship. The point is not to win, but the transform the relationship. Nonviolent communication is not a reponse to a situation, but a lifestyle. What a powerful to live.
Our world, our understanding of life is so geared toward winning. What if every gave up the need to win, and instead felt the need to understand one another and live together in peace? My commitment is to give up the need to win, and to live a nonviolent lifestyle. More importantly, teach others to also adopt the pholosophy toward life. Winning also connotes opression, separation, allowing others to lose.
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