Ligaments

Intact bridges are great.

Bridges are constructed from one land mass to another. When a bridge is in place, there is no end to possibility of traffic, given the bridges health and capacity. Bridges make commerce of goods, transportation and wealth possible.

Nothing like a good bridge!

Bridges work as a good metaphor for relationships as well. Bridges in and for relationships connect one point of view to another, allow for traffic of ideas, and enables commerce of relationship to continue. So a bridge is a good relationship metaphor in that it allows us to visualize possibility through the use of a common everyday structure we can relate to.

But there is a limit to this metaphor when it comes to people ... humans.

Bridges are completely dependent on land masses that are stable and solid. A bridge fastened to the solid and stable may have some flexibility for environmental irregularities, but is also rigid enough to be reliable.

So a metaphorical bridge within relationships is also dependent upon stable and solid. Both parties building a relational bridge must be solid, healthy and able to sustain the bridge being built. If not, then whatever is being built will collapse.

Humans are not land masses

The problem is, we keep trying to build bridges to others who are not capable of withstanding the structural burden of the 'bridge' then wonder why there is failure in relationship. This may be a shock to some of you but potentially, humans are an unstable lot.

Ligaments; A unifying bond

I think we just need some vocabulary updates. If your goal is to relationally connect solid and stable to solid and stable, then please use the bridge metaphor when building connecting points between you and the other human.

But if you want to connect with the potentially unstable humans in your life and across your path, then you'll need something molecular, something fleshy, something that shares DNA ... you'll need to attach ligaments.

Here's today's question: 'Am I willing to connect a unifying bond from the fleshy side of me to the fleshy side of another?'

It's a scary proposition. In order to connect ligaments between you and another human, both of you will have to endure exposure. Something in both of you will have to undergo some kind of invasive surgical procedure in order for the ligament between you to be attached. Now, there's a metaphor.

Perhaps we've stumbled upon why so few humans are connecting to other humans ... its messy. There's a lot of blood and the pain sharing can be quite excruciating when we undergo the surgical procedure necessary to attach a unifying bond to someone else.

It would be difficult, if not entirely impossible to have these attachments if we didn't already have a New Testament that was full of (thankfully not an inclusive list) Jesus, Paul, Luke, Peter and Priscilla being fantastic examples of humans undergoing a relational surgical procedure in an effort to attach a unifying bond to other humans.

Here's the good news. You cannot be the bridge any more than you can be the ligament. Please remember all of us humans have one common denominator, one great equalizer and the only connection that can be or needs to be built or be the unifying bond ... God. He is the tie that binds.

But He, not you or I, has chosen from the days of the desert to the earth known Jesus, to wrap Himself in flesh. His choice is you ... the human. Our only discovery today is to decide whether or not we will be human enough for the God who creates to be connected to His creation.

Personal Note:
For those of us who knew Pastor Dan, the Youth Pastor at New Harvest, his death on Friday is a sad moment indeed. To Dan's wife, children, family, Pastor Mike, the Pastoral staff and our friends at New Harvest you have our prayers our love and our support.

Dan
A Runner

The In-Between Places

Junior Highers are probably the most volatile of all age demographics. Not volatile like they're the most dangerous, but that they are in that too young and too old place in life. Junior Highers, at least for the most part, are hilariously funny and entirely too serious - all at the same time.

When you think about it, there are quite a few folks out here whose lives play out a lot like the behavioral realities of a Junior Higher. Some people are, while at the same time are not - like inmates in prison for example. They are fathers and mothers, but are not fathering or mothering at the time of incarceration.

Some people have heard yes, but not yet - like for example a man or women waiting for housing. They're capable of living on their own and taking care of their bills, but a house in an approved neighborhood is not yet open to them.

The reality is, there are In-Between Places of life.

For most of us, we can survive the reality of living between problem and solution - for a while. But for most, particularly those who have regular or constant exposure to this reality, living in the In-Between places can be confusing, even on a good day.

The problem of course is that confusion is at the top end of the Cycle of Disconnect - confusion leads to frustration, frustration leads to fatigue and fatigue leads to disconnect. If you think about how many people you know who are in some state of disconnect and track their migration backward, you'll find confusion at the source.

Here's today's question: 'What responsibility do we have to others who are living in the In-Between Places?'

Some of you reading today may be thinking; 'I'm living right now this reality, there's no way I can handle any responsibility for anyone else.'

Trust me, I understand. Life is hard and harried enough when things are going reasonably well. God help us when we crisis on some point or worse yet, have to be told waiting will be needed for something that shouldn't need to be waited for - I get it.

May I ask you to consider something?

Realize at your lowest point, you will still be at a higher point than someone at their lowest point. It's like the old hymnal; There's room at the cross'. Jesus' lowest point as a human, was still higher than my lowest point - He knew that, still does.

No matter what your condition, or state of being, there is always an opportunity to reach out to a fellow brother or sister.

By the way, Tent City is celebrating our 20th year as a community conducting 'Homeless Awareness Projects'. It all starts on Friday evening and goes through breakfast on Sunday - It's a great place to serve ... in the In-Between Place.

Dan
A Runner

We got next!

The national poverty rankings were released a few days ago.

There are two things to remember when looking at the numbers;
1. The poverty line is $21,834.00 for a family consisting of two adults and two children below the age of 18 (a family of four).

2. The national report released, ranked the 75 cities in America with a population exceeding 250,000 residents. This is important because there are more people living in urban settings today than at any other time in history. People are moving to cities.

Let's talk Ohio

Ohio has the dubious distinction of being the only state with more than one large city in the top ten; #2 Cleveland (30.5%), #7 Cincinnati (25.1%) and #8 Toledo (24.75). With Columbus (20.1%) taking the #22 slot, the report puts all four major Ohio cities in the top 33% of the nations poorest cities.

Detroit (33.3%) is ranked in the report as being the #1 poorest city in our nation, which precariously perches Toledo at #8 between the number one and two cities of Detroit and Cleveland.

Our city planners over the last 12 to 15 years while trying to hide the Detroitification effect have been at the same time touting the Cleveland Plan as a model to follow when looking at revitalization.

However, when doing a side by side comparison of Cleveland vs. Detroit plans I'm not sure we should be enamored by either. Both Detroit and Cleveland have new stadiums, new arenas and new venues. Cleveland has developed The Flats, and along with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is now considered by most to be a better destination place than Detroit for outsiders to visit ... to visit.

OK - while you visit please keep the larger picture in mind when wondering why Toledo can't have this kind of revitalization. This kind of revitalization only benefits small areas when compared to the larger region. Both Detroit and Cleveland are losing their populations. The school systems of both Detroit and Cleveland still have worse classifications and scores than does Toledo - which isn't saying much.

Consider also this; Cleveland, along with Detroit have the greatest number of children experiencing poverty at 42 and 46 percent respectively. That's 42 and 46 percent of every child under the age of 18 living in these two cities, is in poverty. Toledo doesn't fair much better with 36.5% of our children living in poverty.

Here's today's question; 'Is it any wonder, giving our regions unhealthy followership of our nearest major cities' growth plans, that we also follow their poverty realities?'

We got next!

That's the familiar call from the person or team who 'calls it' on any court or field of play. It's tantamount to yelling 'shot gun' when heading to the car so you get front seat.

Peter Drucker, who passed away several years ago, said shortly before his death; The church is the only institution capable of recivilizing urban environments, but sadly the church is also the most fragmented institution in those same environments.

It's time for the church to 'call it'! To yell 'shot gun' and declare 'we got next'!

By now we should be tired of the view from the back seat. What are we waiting for? The church, despite it's self loathing, often narcissistic views, is still the most powerful certainty on this planet ... including, but not limited to Detroit, Toledo and Cleveland.


A few weeks ago in a recent post; 'The Behavioral Citizen' I asked if you were ready to be the leader your neighborhood and city need? Like the individual responsibility, the church has to regain its intended and Biblical identity and be the leader our cities desperately need.

Our poverty ranking and realities are only the wake up call to the systemic and rooted ranking and realities stimulating the poverty. Instead of shaking our heads about our #1, #2 and #8 ranking on the way to the stadium ... instead of bowing our heads to offer a prayer for our region on our way to church ... instead of blaming our elected officials on our way to the voting booth, maybe we should take a long look in the mirror.

Take a long look. While you're looking at the person staring back at you, remember what Peter Drucker said and try to remember that you, not the building you worship in, are the church - you are the church. You and thousands more like you are the only ones capable of recivilizing our urban environments.

Now, go get another church member and the two of you stand and look in the mirror - take a long look. As a matter of fact, what would it be like if at the front of every sanctuary there was a long and tall mirror, so we could all take a long look together?

We're it!

God has wisely put His branch offices (the church) on every corner. If we answer the fragmented question, then the powerful realities of agreement and unity can be released ... finally, and just in time.

Dan
A Runner

Access

I think I was 22 when standing on the porch of the house my wife and I were renting, wondered how I was going to get in given the fact I had no key. Crystal had left on an errand and I had been working on our car in the garage and apparently she thought ... and I thought ... and you know how it goes, you get locked out.

And so, I did what any respectable young man would do [by the way this was before cell phones] I found an unlocked window and crawled in. The funny thing was, that try as I might the key to the house could not be found. Frustrated I put my hands on my hips only to feel the key ring hanging out of my back pocket.

I had the key with me the whole time. But busyness, frustration and hurriedness caused momentary loss of memory.

Once, not too long ago, I locked my keys in the car. Ever notice when someone locks their keys in the car, they press their face against the glass looking at the keys on the seat or hanging in the ignition? Its as if we're saying; 'so close, but yet so far away.'

"The key will be under the mat". Ever plan on going to see an apartment or a building you want to rent and being told how to gain access, you arrive only to realize the key holder had not left a key ... access denied.

There are people all around you everyday who live lives represented in these examples.

People who have the key already with them, but have forgotten where it is. People who once had the key but are unable to immediately retrieve it. And people who have been told where the key is only to find its not there.

People are locked out!

Most people don't immediately ask for help when things start going wrong. We wait. Try to figure it out on our own. It's admirable right up until the minute you realize you're better off inviting and receiving assistance.

There are two things you and I can do this week:
1. Ask for help.
We all lose our way from time to time. It's Godly to invite assistance. The good you will do in others by letting them help you, will far out way the help they offer.

2. Be on the look out for the locked out.
People all around you need you. They've lost their keys, or worse yet have them but have let the hurriedness of life cause loss of memory.

Being a Christ follower is about access.

You who have experienced the inside warmth of access, please don't forget there are others with their faces pressed against the glass. Some have the key, some can see the key and others wouldn't know the key if you hit them with it.

Here's today's question: 'In what ways will I experience access this week?'

Dan
A Runner