You Can't Know What You Don't Care About
By Chris Leonardo |
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I had a bad realization 2 months ago.
I don't work in our office intentionally, unless I absolutely need some privcacy/silence/peace, I often work in coffee shops. Tiny's on Hawthorne is my favorite spot since they serve Stumptown and usually play super obscure and crazy music. DanZ, Dustin, Devin and I are convinced that they turn on the craziest and darkest droning music whenever we get together to meet there. Otherwise its a great place. I frequent Starbucks on 19th and Hawthorne as well.
 Here's what I realized, I had been full timing it at evergreen for nearly a year and I didn't know a single substantive thing about any of the baristas I see almost every day. It broke my heart. I walk in, order my drinks and throw on my headphones to get to work.
Here's where the good part comes, and you can give me an amen or a 'give me a break' depending on your level of cynicism. I simply prayed about this... twice. I felt awful, wrote a little bit of a confession that acknowledged my desire to stay in my own world and not let certain people in, my desire to put on headphones so that I can get certain projects done uninterrupted etc.
I prayed again that I would meet some of these great people, and I did. Turns out a lot of people have some really compelling ideas about Jesus. I met this guy named Matt at Tiny's who turn out to be the drummer from a Portland band called The Empty. We talked for half an hour about Jesus and what he thinks about the church and related issues. I learned a lot from this guy, and I hope he has a better picture of who Jesus is from our conversation. There' s a lot more stories like this from the Starbucks, the Post Office, Hot Lips and a few other great spots around town.
Turn from a way of interacting with your surroundings that is based in fear, insecurity or something of the like and embrace that fact that Jesus actually cares about all these people. You can care too. You can't interact very well with someone you genuinely don't care about, so ask Jesus to help you care. You may be surprised, I was and am continuing to be.
 Chris Leonardo is the husband of Karli, the father of Ania and the associate pastor of the evergreen community in Portland OR. He listens to a lot of music, reads a lot, and is learning not to lean so much on his own understanding... |
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I agree, Kevin. For folks who haven't been around the church much "step into my office" isn't a very inviting thing, its also good for us to spend as much outside of our church walls and community as possible. Its unfortunately something I overlook more than i should. Thanks for the comment!
I try to do some of my work at coffee shops, too, not only for the great atmosphere, but also out of hope that somehow my "church" work can extend to normal people sitting in coffee shops. In fact, today I came to work at church and felt guilty about it. As pastors, we should be living out in our own work the call to be in the world.
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