“Turn Left In 450 Metres”

Good news: driving is going well! I think I am slowly getting the hang of this whole automatic, driving-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-road thing. The first 20 minutes was a bit interesting, as I adjusted to driving with one foot, and trying to follow the GPS, but after a while I started to really enjoy it. The drive from Chicago up to Grand Rapids was really beautiful – the city was beautiful leaving Chicago, and the highway was stunning with all the trees in their various shades of fall.

Getting to that point was somewhat more interesting though! I’d reserved a car with Alamo to pick up in downtown Chicago on Saturday around 3, and was about 10 minutes late in arriving – Google fail, as I hooved it about 20 blocks down. I didn’t expect it would take too long to get set and get going, but upon arrival discovered that Alamo had overbooked everything. No cars. Hmm. After a lot of hanging around and a conversation with the guy at the rental desk, I ended up taking the metro out to Midway airport – a 30 minute ride – to pick a car up there. Not the most convenient, and it set me back a couple of hours in leaving Chicago. That said, once I got to Midway the guy at the rental place was really helpful & friendly. They also knocked off the charge for GPS as a courtesy, so it wasn’t all bad…!

GPS is becoming my new best friend – I’m actually a bit surprised by how well it works!

Techno Worship // Mars Hill

I spent the day in Grand Rapids yesterday with the wonderful Betsy, so I could visit Mars Hill. I enjoy meeting new people a lot – lots of fun to hang with Betsy and see around GR. We also took in a screening of Where The Wild Things Are, which was beautiful. Highly recommend you check it out.

So, Mars Hill was quite the experience. I didn’t really know what to expect in terms of musical styles, but it seems everyone was surprised to find ourselves singing along to electronica! Troy (the lead worshiper) spoke of how putting familiar words to unfamiliar sounds might help us to engage with the words in new ways, and so they used lots of synthesisers, remixed crazy melodies, and set old praise song words to 80’s cheesy love songs!

Rob Bell was speaking yesterday, continuing the series on the Beatitudes. I enjoyed watching how the church interacts and functions within themselves. I guess people, myself included at times if I’m honest, think about all the stuff Rob’s been involved in – Noomas, his books, speaking – and perhaps forget that he’s a pastor first. He’s a pastor who studies and preaches, who knows the names of people in his church, who champions and celebrates the work they do. It’s good to be reminded of that.

I didn’t realise before I walked into The Shed (the auditorium) that it was in the round. It’s interesting to see how much that changes the dynamic of a service & of a group of people. It seems to me like it makes it a more communal thing – everyone in the room can see each other, can see that they’re called to follow Jesus in a community of other people, not on their own. I’ve never come across a church that meets in the round before, it was refreshing.

Definitely the most interesting service I’ve been at in a long time!

Policeman

Segway

I saw a policeman on a Segway today, and I near killed myself laughing!

Windy City Day One

It feels great to be back in Chicago! I don’t know why particularly, but it feels like a home from home. Great place.

I was up for a solid 24 hours yesterday, and it was totally worth it. Bumped into Stewart on board a Glasgow to Luton flight, and kept each other marginally more awake than normal. Spent the entirety of an 8 hour transatlantic flight veering between two thoughts: “the guy in front of me is really cute” and “that kid is 3 and playing with an iPhone – I feel old”.

The journey from O Hare to my friends apartment is fairly straightforward, and was going fine until I had to switch from the metro to the bus. I made a mental note last year when I was here of which side to get the bus on (after riding it in the wrong direction for 40 minutes), yet still got totally confused by it again. Ha. I really don’t do buses.

Got soaked on the walk from the bus stop to Hannah’s place – it’s been raining off and on, but today wasn’t too bad. Took a trip to Navy Pier and wandered around Michigan Avenue again.

Being inspired and encouraged by Don Miller’s new book, A Million Miles In A Thousand Years, which I read in London yesterday – more on that later.

End Of An Era

I walked out of the office today for the last time as a staff member. Four months as a online PR officer have flown by, even more so than 10 months as a youth worker.

What can I say about the last 14 months? No doubt there will be more words here over the coming weeks. Right now?

I’m so privileged to have had 14 months working for an organisation I truly believe in, with colleagues who have become close friends, doing a job that gives me such satisfaction. You know, after this I think I could actually get used to the 9-5 thing…!

Skye’s the Limit

Photographs from my Skye trip last month are finally online!

Lyrics On Friday

This track popped up on shuffle earlier this week, and it seemed so totally appropriate! It’s been a while since I’ve listened the whole way through a John Mayer album, but I’ve been listening to him a lot this week again.

Staying home alone on a Friday
Flat on the floor looking back
On old love
Or lack thereof
After all the crushes are faded
And all my wishful thinking was wrong
I’m jaded
I hate it

I’m tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
So tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
Get here

Searching all my days just to find you
I’m not sure who I’m looking for
I’ll know it
When I see you
Until then, I’ll hide in my bedroom
Staying up all night just to write
A love song for no one

I’m tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
So tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here

I could have met you in a sandbox
I could have passed you on the sidewalk
Could I have missed my chance
And watched you walk away?
Oh no way

I could have met you in a sandbox
I could have passed you on the sidewalk
Could I have missed my chance
And watched you walk away?

I’m tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
I’m so tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here oh yeah

I’m tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
I’m so tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here

You’ll be so good
You’ll be so good for me

[Love Song For Noone - John Mayer]

Arranging Memory & Invention

“The very act of storytelling, of arranging memory and invention according to the structure of the narrative, is by definition holy… We tell stories because we can’t help it. We tell stories because we love to entertain and hope to edify. We tell stories because they fill the silence death imposes. We tell stories because they save us.”

[James Carroll]

Lyrics On Friday On Saturday

Because I am late with them again this week! I’ve been listening to the new Imogen Heap album a ton lately, and particularly the first track…

(I’ve got to get on it) (3x)

Bodies disengaged our mouths are fleshing over.
It´s just an echo game irises retreating
to ovals of white.
The urge to feel your face
And blood rushing to paint my handprint
A Frisbee one by one
Your vinyl on lamanent
Desperate for some kind of contact.

First train home I’ve got to get on it (3x)
To Catch to catch catch catch catch.
First train home I’ve got to get on it (3x)
First Train home

Temporal deadzone where clocks are barely breathing
Yet no one cares to notice for all the yelling
All night clamor to hold it together.
I want to play don’t wait forms in the hideaway
I want to get on with getting on with things
I want to run in fields paint the kitchen
And love someone
And I can’t do any of that here can I?

First train home I’ve got to get on it (3x)
First Train home

So what? You’ve had one too many.
So what? I’m not that much fun to be with
So what? You’ve come silly hatter
So what? I didn’t want to come here anyway.

What matters you doesn’t matter matter to me.
What matters to me doesn’t matter matter to you.
What matters to you doesn’t matter matter to them.
What matters to them doesn’t change anything.

Got to get on it first train home.
Got to get on it first train home

First train home I’ve got to get on it
(I’ve got to get on it)
To catch to catch catch-catch catch.
(First train home)
First train home I’ve got to get on it
First train home.
(First train home)

To go to go to go
Get get get get
Out out out out
Now now now now

[First Train Home by Imogen Heap]

What’ve you been listening to this week?

Finding God

“All truth is God’s truth”

I’ve been thinking about that statement a lot lately.

Every circle has it’s in crowd, the cool kids, the hip ones. It’s no different in church/ faith contexts. Depending on what church you attend, who you’re friends are, what your theology is, or any number of other factors, there are in things and out things. Things it’s ok to like and things it’s so not cool to like.

Even things it’s ok to find God in, and things it’s unacceptable to find God in.

I walk a fine line between cynicism and hope most days. But I want to state right here, right now, that all truth is God’s truth. Find God wherever you find him, and celebrate it, whether that’s on the margins or in the mainstream.

Maybe someday we’ll learn that Jesus is found in both, and learn to celebrate them together.