Tag: park

Community…

Last summer I took a group of youth on a short-term mission trip.  We had the opportunity to travel to El Paso, Texas and run some soccer camps.   As I look back I have to laugh at this for two reasons:  First – only a few of us had any experience with soccer and that was mainly with watching it on ESPN, and Second– we were holding camps in a community where children seem to be given soccer balls at birth.  Yep – most if not all – of the kids we worked with probably learned to kick a soccer ball long before they learned to walk…  Regardless, we had fun.

One of the things I noticed while there was how the families and the churches participated in community – they were WITH each other outside of their individual homes.  It seemed that no matter where we were, there were big groups gathering together, something that just doesn’t happen where I am from.  You just don’t see it here in the Pacific NW like I saw it there.  You can call it cultural or whatever you want, but me, I will call it awesome.

Last night we got together as a church outside of the building and in a local park.  It was great.  Many families were there and we brought games, food, and just hung out.  There was no agenda, no schedule, and no pressure to do anything but just be with each other.  It was intentional and it was fun (except for the part where I failed miserably in the game of kick ball – I will blame it on my age).  We scheduled it and made a point to gather together…

It got me thinking.  What does it mean to be in community with someone?  What does it mean to experience it?  Do we throw around the word community too much?  Has it lost its meaning?   I would like to know your thoughts.  What do you think?

Until next time…

Pastor Barry

Deep Roots…

Last week I had the enviable task of being a chaperone for a third-grade field trip!  As I am writing I can almost feel the jealously that you are undoubtedly feeling right now…  But seriously, It was rather interesting and the kids were very well behaved so it was easy.

We went to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and I arrived a little earlier than the school bus, so I took the opportunity to look around.  The museum sits on a small hill in a very wooded area, very park like, with all sorts of trees, most very old…and very tall.  But scattered in amongst them there were smaller trees, just a fraction of the size and age of the older ones.  Protected from the wind, rain, and any strong storm that might happen.

It has been very wet in the Pacific Northwest this winter, and on occasion, extremely windy.  Which, made me thankful that it was neither on this day, because I wanted the roots to hold firm and keep these trees standing tall and strong.  Too often I have turned the news on to see a car crushed or a roof collapsed because the ground was too soft to hold the deep roots that these trees can put down.

Looking at those trees reminded me of a verse I had read just that morning in Proverbs chapter 12. In verse 3 it says that the Godly have deep roots.

Those big trees had roots that would hold on, stay strong, and find nourishment.  Their roots even served to protect the younger trees who were just establishing themselves.  I would be willing to bet that this was the image the writer of Proverbs intended.  When saying that the Godly have deep roots, he was saying they have the ability to hold on, stay strong, find nourishment, and even protect those who are just beginning their journey!

Now this may not be an epiphany for you – but it was a definite ah-hah moment for me.  It really caused me to think not only about my own roots, but about the roots of those close to me.  Am I teaching, nourishing, protecting, and sheltering like I should?

Over the next few days think about your root system.  Where are you finding food?  Are you going deeper?  Are you growing stronger?  We all should be…after all those trees had deep roots and were still growing…they were still living….aren’t you?

Until next time…

Pastor Barry