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Citywalk Blog
May 25th, 2010
Lately it seems like I have had a string of pretty tough weeks and months. I have had many moments where being the boss just plain stinks. Long hours, lots of responsibility, and tough/stressful conversations occur often – and lately, daily.
I have moments in my job where every action I make feels completely void of any meaning. Like everything I do is just a string of meaningless actions with no value added to the universe. I feel like I have to shut off my emotions so that I can just survive mentally. Recently I had to lay off five people. Five lives completely turned upside down with a few simple words. I did not take these words lightly or without meaning. In one day I laid off three people, in a row. I reached a point at which I literally did not think things could get any worse… but alas, just when you think that, sometimes they do.
And then, just when I want to give up and shut down completely, Jesus shows up in my everyday life to remind me that when I place my meaning in him, I will give meaning to others. Someone sent me a quiet email letting me know that they appreciate me. Those simple words were enough to redirect my meaningless emotions and actions into something that is meaningful and full of purpose.
Sometimes I need to be reminded that placing my meaning in Christ doesn’t have to be in the literal form. It can be best reflected through my everyday life and leading it in a way that can make people stop and think “Wow, she handled that really well.” I have to practice this daily and I don’t always do a good job, so I am glad to be part of a community that can help remind me of what true meaning is.
Posted in Sjohnna | No Comments »
May 21st, 2010
I heard a pastor say this a while back, and it’s becoming a favorite quote of mine lately.
I want to share it with you all as well. I think it speaks a profound truth of the Gospel in it’s simplicity.
Sometimes we really don’t need a lot of words.
So, may you think on this at least once this weekend. Personalize it for yourself if you need to. Allow yourself to actually hear it, not just read it. Ready? Here goes…
You are worse than you think, and more loved than you realize.
That says a lot, I think.
Have a great weekend!
Tags: grace, quotes
Posted in Joshua | No Comments »
May 6th, 2010
I bought a friend a birthday card today which had a quote on it from Nicolas De Chamfort who was apparently a witty French writer in the 1700′s (I had to Google that!  ). Anyway, it says “The most wasted of all days is that during which one has not laughed.”
This got me thinking about how laughter must have been from the beginning. It is a human expression that crosses all cultures and time-periods, and even languages. You can laugh together with anyone of any age or background, even if you can’t talk to them. Even babies laugh before they learn to talk.
Have you ever noticed, though, how we rarely laugh on our own? It is usually in interacting with others, either one-on-one or in groups that you hear people laugh. In fact if we see someone laughing and they are on their own, we usually think they are hallucinating or have a mental problem because it is so rare for us to laugh on our own. The card I bought had a photo of two girls laughing together with their arms around each other. Laughing is something we do together.
Does God laugh? Does he have a sense of humour? He created us with funny bones and diverse senses of humor, and since we are ‘in His image’, I think he must. What does he laugh about? Probably something to do with us… Or does he want to laugh WITH us? Do you think he might have had a little chuckle when he suggested Noah build the ark? Or when Daniel got thrown into the Lion’s den? Or when he gets us out of situations we think are impossible but he knew all along he had the power to overcome?
Laughing has so many health benefits too, both mental and physical. There are now “laughter groups” you can apparently join where people force themselves to laugh until a real laugh is triggered, just to get the therapeutic benefits.
So, let’s continue to meet together, and be in community, so we keep each other laughing. God made us to laugh, it’s good for us, and we can’t do it on our own!
Posted in Kathryn | No Comments »
May 3rd, 2010
Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. -Wikipedia
Steve asked at home church on Wednesday which spiritual gift we were lacking the most in our lives. Immediately, the word PATIENCE jumped into my mind. I didn’t even wait for other people to share, as I blurted out: “Patience. I need more patience.”
So much of my work day is on go, go, go. Get this done, get to that task, send off this email, reply to that email. No time to waste. As a result, by the time I get home- my mind is still going a mile a minute. I want dinner made, I want my laundry done and put away, I do not want to wait for anything. I’m on a roll… go go go!!
And then it begins to creep in that I’m not being very spiritual and I’m burning the candle at both ends. I want things done on my time and my way. If the fruit of my work day is impatience, then I’m heading in the wrong direction.
What does patience look like then?
Patience is the state of enduring a difficult circumstance without reacting with annoyance or in a negative way. This means, not reacting to bumper to bumper traffic. This means, taking a deep breath in the middle day when everything has gone wrong or when you’ve received a bad phone call. This means, putting other people first and setting aside your own impulsive desires. It is a call to endure difficulty with peace.
When I see someone who is patient, it looks right. They are slow to anger. They are calm and collected. Who wouldn’t want to be contented and peaceful? Why is it that older people are generally more patient? It is because they’ve reached a certain spiritual and emotional maturity.
Ecclesiastes 7:8,9 says
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Everybody needs…just a little patience, yeah… Pray for extra patience today.
Tags: anger, patience, peace, spiritual gift, work
Posted in Cheryl | No Comments »
April 14th, 2010
In a conversation I was having a while back around issues of faith and community, a friend said something to the effect of, “A defining factor in Christian community is that people interact in such a way to build one another up.”
I have thought about this so many times since that night. I’ve thought about how I agree with the statement. I’ve tried to make further sense of it. I’ve thought about whether or not I see this lived out or not. I keep thinking about it.
It just seems that much of our world is about getting ahead. At whatever cost, we will make another dollar, get a promotion, prove our point, hold our ground or get our way.
Perhaps one of the most attractive things about Christianity, is that it offers an alternative way for people. One where we look to the interests of others. We strive for unity. We work together.
Perhaps one of the the biggest dissapointments of Christianity is when our alternative way is actually no different. When people who claim to follow God only do so in words, but in deed, follow some other way. When people who position themselves in places of Christian leadership, lead in such a way to get ahead…often at any cost. When Christian community actually causes harm to people.
During our discussion, some things were offered that I am compelled by. Often, people are reprimanded, fired or excluded, though never given clear direction, help, suggestions or expectations (Many years ago, I was working at a church where a colleague was fired because they were not performing at the desired level. I distinctly remember being disturbed by this, mostly because this person was never given a chance.) The alternative way, one where relationship would trump production…one could call this a Christian way if they’d like…might look more like this.
When someone drops the ball, even big time failure. I could first think through how I could help that person improve, help them succeed. I could freely share my expectations of them, I could let them know they blew it, but they need not fear. I wonder how work environments might change, how Christian community might change, if we all believed and experienced this alternative way. A way where we don’t work from fear of being fired or go the extra mile just to get a raise.
Not easy.
Last week my wife and I were in Palm Springs for a 24 hour get away. While lounging in the pool, an employee of the hotel was changing the Pool Rule sign. He was hand writing the capacity in permanent ink…and I was watching. He wrote pool 500. No way would the pool hold 500 people, maybe 50. He noticed his omission and laughed. What he meant to write was pool deck. So he quickly added the word deck, but spelled it deak. So the pool deak capacity is 500, what that is. Ali and I chuckled, but why did I not say something? I knew at best this guy would be humiliated, at worse…well probably not fired over it but who knows. While I swam thinking, another lady quietly walked up and pointed out the mistake, smiled with him and he fixed it.
That was it. That is what needed to be done. And it was done (not by me).
I believe letting our guards down and living in a way that begins to move us to another way is what we need most. It will bring people groups together. All people groups. Differences would no longer divide. Barriers no long break us apart. Arguments would turn to encouragement. And all would be better for it.
This is at the heart of the Christian ethic, to be reconciled to one another. It is the declaration of Psalm 133: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. It is what I keep thinking about. And it is my hope…to see it lived out through my life.
Posted in Steve | No Comments »
April 5th, 2010
Patience is definitely not one of those virtues that comes naturally to me. It just doesn’t feel good to have to wait for things. I am sure I was like that as a child, but society hasn’t helped me much either by affirming and praising all things ‘fast’ (food, entertainment, etc.). I suppose it’s because I prefer to be in control, and when I am waiting, someone else is in control. Lately, I have been waiting on potential employers to decide if they want to hire me or not.. and waiting for the phone to ring, knowing you can’t do anything else but wait, can be excrutiating at times. I have been “runner up” for 6 different jobs in the last 5 months!
Singleness involves a whole lot of waiting too.. waiting to see if the guy you like is going to call; waiting to meet a new guy when the other one didn’t call; waiting just enough time to call him so you don’t seem too forward or desperate; waiting for him to be ready for something more serious… etc.
And my newest experience of waiting is when I spend time with my aging parents. They have slowed down a lot the last few years, so I often find myself waiting for them if we are going on a walk, or waiting for them to find something they are looking for to take with them before we can head out somewhere..
So how does God want me to be while I am waiting? Psalm 27:14 and 37:7 suggests:
Patient (oh, dear, better work on that one!!)
Brave (yea, not doing all that well there either)
Courageous (man, you better start praying for me.. so far NOT so good on this tally!)
Still (nup – not even a little!)
Not worrying or fretting (hardly!)
Ok, so waiting is not my best thing… Is it even human? (ha ha ha).
So, I’m going to read and reread a few verses with the hope that God will give me His strength and power to be patient, brave, courageous, still and not worry. Since only He has ever truly been able to do that in Jesus, I am going to need his help on this one!
James 5: 7-11 “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
Posted in Kathryn | 1 Comment »
March 26th, 2010
This past Sunday at Citywalk’s 1st Annual Sushi Picnic, there was a lot of fun in the sun. Upon arrival, I spotted a group of folks on the volleyball court laughing and egging each other on. Seated in beach chairs, mommies and soon-to-be mommies chatting about motherhood. Children playing with frisbees and golden retreivers playing catch with their owners. It was a fine setting for a Sunday afternoon.
I kind of wish the rest of the world could experience this afternoon Sunday setting.
The mood on the vball court was a little different. Lots of ambitious players doing some trash talking and being overtly competitive. But although every player was working hard for the team and wanting to score, we were civil. We all worked hard but paid respect to one another for the sake of the game and the love we had for one another.
For a brief moment, I wondered what a peaceful place the world would be if our world leaders were forced to meet every Sunday afternoon at Balboa park for some sun and volleyball. I imagine Obama spiking the ball over the net and Kim Jong Il going, “Oh, that was a good one!”
Or, Ahmadinejad setting the ball to Felipe Calderon. After the game, the players would run under the net to switch swides and give each other low fives saying, “Good game, good game.”
The world would be a better place, one picnic at a time.
Posted in Cheryl | No Comments »
March 18th, 2010
I filled out my 2010 census today, so I am officially counted for the next 10 years. But I wish it was that simple, the whole thing has got me thinking.
The questions were simple. What is your name? What is your age? When is your birthday? Male or female? Race? Do you live anywhere else? That was it, easy. Nothing else is required to be counted, but what really counts, what really matters. My age, name and my race are all things about me, but these aren’t what count, or what I want to be known, or known for.
I want my life to stand for something.
The only memorable census is the one that began the story of One, the One whose life counted in an entirely different way. The One who offered opportunity to each life thereafter, to you and to me, to count, not just be counted.
That census, long ago, shook things up, it changed things…well beyond establishing a city’s population.
I wonder if the census this year might ignite anything in me or in you? Will I make a difference? Will I make the most of every opportunity? Will I take hold of this life, and live it to its fullest capacity? Will I embrace the One who gave me life, and live in his Way?
In 10 years, when the census roles around again, most things will be the same (except my age). I will be counted again. But I wonder, how will my years will be accounted for?
Posted in Steve | No Comments »
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