This one is just for funsies.
Im on a new team again. We have been drop kicking the evil
out of Thailand this month and will, barring unforeseen circumstance, be
together for the remainder of the Race. I cannot overstate the joy, wisdom, and
general awesomeness that radiates from these disciples. I love them.
A few days ago we were discussing how we are like
skyscrapers, incredible and wonderful in our own way, with observation decks
that see the rest of the skyline for all of its beauty and shadows, from a
uniquely valuable perspective. But the problem with the observation deck on top
of the empire state building is that you cannot see the empire state building
from it!! Sometimes, we struggle to see in ourselves the Spirit we so readily
acknowledge in those around us.
Therefore, since I am mildly obsessed with New York City and
becoming heavily obsessed with Team Ampersand, I thought I would introduce us
to the world as the New York City Skyline.
Joey (The Statue of Liberty) Im going to need some grace
here because I have trouble recognizing and calling out my own gifts. I am
our team leader. A welcome beacon for souls in need of hope and compassion. A
torch-bearer. An island that gazes at the rising sun to the East and, in its
peripheral, has a big picture view of the rest of the New York skyline.
Kyle (The Freedom Tower) full of newness and passion,
gleaming bright and large. The Freedom Tower is the replacement for the World Trade
Center, built on the site of a lot of brokenness and pain. It is a young
structure, still reaching heavenward for its full potential. When all is said
and done, it will be the tallest building in the skyline. The tower is desperately
passionate to bring healing and renewed hope to the city, just as Kyle is to
the Kingdom of God.
Justin (Madison Square Garden) a host of entertainment,
art, and meaningful addresses. Justin is like the epicenter of our team, a
source of life and a beacon of identity. Justin carries some sort of divine
secret that draws people in and has people wearing Kingdom of Heaven sports
caps all over town.
Julie (The Empire State Building) an incredibly central
and above-the-fog view of the rest of the city. You may not know this, but they
pretty often change the colors of the massive lights that shine up on the ESB.
Julie is colorful and adaptive. She is a powerhouse that demands attention. She
calls the entire city higher. She dares us to dream, to reach higher and live
bigger. It sometimes gets a little windy way up there, but the ESB is more
stable than it realizes; it may sway but it is not going anywhere.
Melissa (Grand Central Terminal) the hub of the city, a
place for locals and visitors to transfer into new things, and a sharer of the
stories of the city. Grand Central is a super practical place, even tourist are
usually a part of it because they are using a service it provides. Because of
this, too often the true and original beauty of the structure itself is missed.
The place itself is magical, there is something incredibly awe-inspiring about
Grand Central. It is the character of New York. Melissa is a safe place wherein
people can move through their stories and not feel alone.
Chelsey (Central Park) Chelsey is our garden, the peace in
our chaos, the calm in our storms. The park is a place to remind New Yorkers of
their humanity. A place to be vulnerable, to let go of the hustle and bustle,
walk barefoot, dance, and laugh. The park is a treasure chest of all of the
best secrets of humanity. Without Central Park, New Yorkers would go insane. We
need the boldness of grass in a concrete jungle, the audacity to be real and
different.
Kylie (Museum of Modern Art) She has heard this at least a
dozen times, but Kylie is a home for treasures. If Kylie receives something
from our lives, she holds it carefully, adores it, and cultivates its
preservation. She does not want to alter anything, just care for what is shared
with her. Similarly to what I said about Grand Central, the Museum is also, in
and of itself, very beautiful and majestically made. It is a treasured house
that houses treasures. A calm and steady reminder of what is valuable and
significant.
In our three months together, we will be the city of God,
sharing our journey from different angles, perspectives, and gifts. United
in Name & purpose. We will value and call out our fellow skyline and ask to
be seen and called out as well. We are a family, a community, and a city of the
Kingdom.
