from Rachel: Our Own House, Our Own City

What were Paul’s feelings towards the believers in Philippi (Philippians 1:3-8)?

“He thanked God for them.
“He longed for them with all the affection of Christ Jesus.”

Accepting that no fellowship of believers is perfect, what are a few things you really love about yours?

“I love the wealth of generational diversity. The Kindred Spirits especially, but everybody is so friendly and cheerful and quick to greet everyone else. I love the genuine care Pastor Scott has for each of us, as well as for the lost souls outside our doors.”

Name some people you look forward to seeing each time you go and explain why.

“Agnes and Eleanor – I love their smiles, their hugs, and Agnes’ humor;
“The family members – Aunt Belva is such a treasure, I couldn’t imagine better in-laws, the kids are cute and fun, et cetera.;
“Marilyn Henderson – she’s always so nice to me (if sometimes almost too praising);
“Susan Emery – she made an extra effort to connect with me at more of a friendship level;
“ A[ki]ko – we share a love of Japan, and she’s just so sweet.”

What about you? Describe a few relationships you have at church that you wouldn’t have anywhere else.

“I suppose all of the elderly ladies listed above. Also, if we didn’t go to church, I doubt I would feel as comfortable with any men as friends: Uncle Richie, Andjelo, Carl, (in the past – Steve Lilja, Kevin, Paul Franklin) (I’m just realizing the otaku category totally derails that theory, but, oh well)”

What was God’s essential point to the exiles in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:4-7)?

“‘Bloom where you’re planted.’ Don’t just pine for home.”

How can we draw a parallel between verse 7, Psalm 122:6, and our own cities?

“If the city and nation one lives in prospers, they are more likely to prosper; if it has struggles and setbacks, they will feel the effects, too.”

How is God using your town or city to equip you to be a humble servant?

“I guess by providing plenty of opportunities to serve.”

How is God using you in your town or city?

“At Lifesource, at the RMHS craft fair, in Mom’s In Touch International, in Des Plaines doing the charity knitting.”

Dearest Rachel –

It’s interesting that, as I start thinking of myself as a tourist in my hometown (albeit thus far with limited success) that your study for this week has you also contemplating the temporary nature of your presence in the place you inhabit. However, rather than being a tourist, a mere observer of the bounded landscape around you, you are (as the Philippians were) instructed to work to be a blessing to the place, by whatever means you are able to be. Moreover, you are asked to consider how to bless, not just the community at large, but specifically the fellowship of believers in the area you’ve been placed.

If you’ll forgive the expression, this rather strikes home for me. Not just because of my return from traveling, and the fact that my little resolution about observing my surroundings more carefully, while perhaps more than I had been doing previously, is still more passive than these instructions, but because I’ve taken this past weekend to get out of town yet again, and have rather left the church behind for this convention, which, I’ll need to tell you, has been so much less than I recall it ever being. I’ll try to put together a separate letter for you about it, but I wonder if, between the timing of this word from you and my own recent experience, God’s not trying to tell me something.

Well, I suppose He’s always trying to tell me (and everyone else) something; He speaks through every passage and scene as the great Director of the drama/comedy/tragedy/farce we call “life.” It just so happens that certain times allow one to hear Him better, if only we would deign to listen.

It is somewhat chagrining to note that the fellow who drives the shuttle bus between the hotel and its sister facility across from the convention center (to say nothing of pickups between here and O’Hare nearby) understands this whole process of being a blessing better than we do at the moment; you’d have been pleased to note that he has KLove playing in his van as he drives about. I should probably at the very least give him a tip on our last trip back from the center if we go there today, in thanks for being a better man than I.

Of course, this is the last day of the convention, and I’m sure that if you were here, you would have insisted we stay until the closing ceremonies. I don’t think that appeals to myself or the boys, and I probably think we will depart earlier. In so doing, Daniel and I will be able to join the church’s annual celebration that always seems to coincide with this event, forcing us to decide to attend one or the other. It’s ironic that, while I made a point of attending online throughout my travels (which sometimes meant waking up awfully early in order to catch the Saturday service on Sunday morning), it’s only once I’m back in town that I actually skip out of a weekend. I know you’d point out that this weekend is unusual – and with me dropping out of Anime Iowa, it will happen that much less often now going forward – but that doesn’t take away the irony of the situation. At least by showing up this afternoon, I can rejoin the fellowship, and maybe figure out once again, where I might fit myself back in and be the blessing that I ought to be.