of Apologies

On Saturday I spent some time at a park eating lunch with some people I'm getting to know who happen to be homeless. I'm always impressed at the crowd at this particular park, because everyone is always very polite and appreciative about any food that we bring to share. People help me carry the cooler and the bags of chips and cookies and sandwiches. No one sits around expecting a hand out from the "church people".
On this particular Saturday a young man caught my eye. He was well groomed and looked just looked a little healthier and more vibrant than most of his friends. He looked me straight in the eye and I could tell he was about to tell me something. He told me that he wanted to apologize because he had a sip of beer in front of me as I approached his group. He was upset and remorseful about this, because he felt that it was inappropriate and disrespectful to be drinking alcohol as I was sharing food with people who had none. He then tried to justify the fact that he had spent his money on alcohol. He said they had all pitched in a little money they had to buy some beer to share.
I wonder if my presence truly made him think twice about whether he should be spending his money on beer at all or if he just felt bad about doing it in front of me. I don't know this guy very well and have spent a little more time with his friends than I have with him.
On one hand the discussion reminded me of the thoughts I've been having the past few weeks about the Scripture's emphasis on "orphans and widows"...those who cannot help themselves. I have had conversations with friends lately about what it would look like to focus energy on those who cannot help themselves versus young able bodied men who choose to be homeless and spend their money on more beer.
On the other hand, I was struck by something in the young man's eyes. I believe he truly was sorry. He was ashamed. He wanted to show his appreciation. He wanted to connect with me on some deeper level. He realized how his life looked to someone else, and it bothered him. He was sorry. I guess one question is whether or not he will let that state of being "sorry" lead him to a state of turning from one way to another. I also question what it would look like for someone to help this guy move from living in shame to stepping into grace. What does it look like to be his friend? What does it look like to love someone in the midst of poor choices.

#2

PEER LEARNING COMMUNITY

PEER LEARNING COMMUNITY

SIX MONTH PEER LEARNING COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING MEETING
FRIDAY APRIL 28. 12-3 P.M.
MEDJOOL RESTAURANT ROOFTOP
2622 Mission Street, San Francisco (at 21st)
http://www.medjoolsf.com/

During the Fall of 2005 and the Winter of 2006 ReIMAGINE sponsored a series
of regional gatherings for faith leaders and seekers exploring the way of
Jesus in emerging contexts. Approximately 100 people attended these events
which ranged from casual networking meals to facilitated topical
discussions. In feedback we received from regular participants they
suggested a more covenanted opportunity to connect with others on a
consistent basis.

A group of us would like to explore connecting through what I would describe
as a peer-learning community. This would be a group primarily composed of
leaders (thought leaders, those exploring spiritual leadership, and people
leading with their lives in various vocations-- business, social
entrepreneurship and the arts. It seems as if faith leaders in the present
future will be multidisciplinarians-- people who exercise leadership in a
particular life domain in addition to guiding others spiritually.

We think that this kind of peer-learning group might be helpful to people who are:

Captivated by what it might mean to be seekers of the kingdom of God in our
time with a holistic, integrative and relational perspective.

Fascinated by Jesus as a teacher and source of energy for life

Exploring intentional communal formation

Seeking to address their spiritual hunger with optimism, creativity, and
Risk-taking.

Navigating life with a global, multicultural and ecological awareness.

This peer-learning group would be an advanced conversation with a practical
orientation and might involve a group project at the end of a six month
contract to meet monthly as a group for 4-6 hours. Participants would
encourage one another to take their courageous "next steps" as life leaders.
We hope that this covenant community can offer solidarity and encouragement
to life leaders who are trying to cut a new groove for what it means to be
followers of God in our world.

If you are interested in participating in this peer learning community, we
would like to invite you to meet with us on Friday April 28. At this meeting
we hope develop more specific goals and expectations for a group that would
meet monthly for the next 6 months. We think it might be best to limit the
group size to 10-12 participants.

Please R.S.V.P. To info@reimagine.org. If you are not able to make the
meeting on April 28, but would like to stay abreast of how you can be
involved, please also indicate this in your response.

ReIMAGINE will periodically continue to offer more general opportunities to
connect in conversation about faith in emerging contexts through Emmaus
Road.

Picture Share

one day

My wife's cousin Michael came to visit on Monday of this week, and I took him around the Bay with me. I had a great time really getting to know him and talking a lot about ReIMAGINE and just how it is I spend my days. At around 9:00 PM we arrived back at my house in Concord, and I was exhausted. In the morning we drove to the Mission District and checked out the local spots where I normally hang out and meet with my friends to plan, scheme and dream new dreams for how we can be a part of the Kingdom breaking into San Francisco. We drove to the Lower Haight and spent the day at Page Street Community Center with a wonderful mess of people: white and black, short and tall, coherent and confused, happy and depressed, gay and straight, with homes and without. Michael got to spend some time with a man named Twilight. We spent several hours making new friends, and I spent some time with many people who are now old friends. I realized that in the few months I've been around the neighborhood I'm actually getting to know people. People are beginning to trust me and open up to me, but it wasn't an overnight type of thing. Part of the process is me learning how to love and how to communicate. We worked hard, sorting through produce, stacking boxes, organizing the food for the crowd that was about to arrive. I reminded Eric that I'm bringing a group of middle school students by in a couple weeks...that will surely be interesting...and wonderful. As the day drew to a close we got back into my car and drove to a Country Club in Danville. Now surrounded by 50 something very upperclass white people who attend a suburban church, it took me a few minutes to get used to my surroundings. I appreciated the group's welcoming and open spirit. I spent about a half an hour of this small group's time, speaking about the radical Jesus of the Gospels and what it looks like to truly love our neighbors in the Bay Area. As our time ended we walked back to my car and drove, finally, back to Concord. Kayla was already in bed but my brother, who is now living with us, and Andrea were glad to see us. As I sat in the chair, still unable to fight off this cold that is driving me crazy, I realized that I had a long and slightly weird day. I encountered incredibly different cultures and tried to let God use me to make some impact, to teach, to bless, to help, to love. I realized that sometimes I'm not quite sure what to make of these days. Which world do I belong to? How do I fit? Where do I have the most impact? WHY IS IT STILL RAINING? Today as I sit in this coffee shop in Concord and catch up on my email and the book I'm writing and my voicemails, I wonder if I should try to rest and get over this cold. Or should I go and talk to find the homeless folks I was looking for this morning? I have some things to talk to them about, but with the rain I'm not sure where they are right now. Hmmmm...I wonder if anyone will read this rambling post...

Walking in the Ways of the Kingdom

This past Friday I was able to help facilitate a day long experience for a group of high school studens from the Dublin area. After an hour and a half orientation including teaching on prayers from Scripture, we took them out for a walk through San Francisco in groups of 4 or 5. We encountered the Mission, the Castro, Market Street and the Tenderloin. The students encountered things they had never seen before and thought about things they had never thought about before. Hopefully, the experience will help all of us to learn to walk in the ways of the Kingdom, to follow Jesus as we encounter new situations and people in every day of our lives.

My particular group was able to sit down with Phil of the legendary Philz Coffee and chat about the poems we were writing as we sought to express our feelings about the city. We also took our new friend George out to lunch. George has lived in San Francisco on the streets for over 30 years and had some stories to tell over lunch. It was a beautiful day, and I was particularly proud of the teenagers for seeing the beauty of the day in the midst of cold and rainy weather.