Bridges to Community

Community is a connection of bridges. Bridges that span from person
to person, passports to interact, take interest and do life.
Sometimes those bridges are built from one person to another. But
the bridge can be built by a third party as an attempt of care for
others. I learned that at O'Hare Airport, Chicago. I missed the
shuttle for the second time (long story) and when I saw it I began
trying to run it down, baggage and all. I was running down the
middle of the street hoping the driver would see me. He didn't. He
kept driving. But then another shuttle driver built a bridge for
me. He honked his horn a few times to get my shuttle driver to look
in the mirror and see me. He built a bridge of caring for me,
running down the street baggage and all. I raised my hand never
looking back as a thanks. For a moment we were a community, one
driver caring about a runner chasing another shuttle. That's
community, simple acts of care for those whose path we cross.

1000 acts

Luke 7:36-50 Jesus' feet was washed by a woman, a sinner, one who
would not have been welcomed. How did she know she was welcomed?
Why would she come to Jesus? Was it not the 1000 acts of mercy and
grace Jesus lived out. He was known to receive sinners. He taught
mercy. The word would have spread about him. 1000 acts of mercy and
grace, more than kindness but the heart of God moving thru us begins
to shape a community. Every encounter with mercy, every moment of
grace, every time we accept, welcome, care for, extend our hands and
hearts the Kingdom of God comes and one more act is in place to move
those far from God to his very presence. 1000 acts takes time, a
deep heart of love, open eyes and arms, genuine outflow of the Lord
thru us to others. But over time, 1000 acts of mercy and grace
captures a community. Over time 1000 acts of living the dream of
God's Kingdom coming, of GraceRiver being the heart of the community
will form us and form those around us. 1000 acts and the hearts of
others can experience that the Lord is not distant from them. 1000
acts and people can begin to discover the God who has always been
there. 1000 acts begins today, with one encounter, one moment of
mercy, undeserved love and forgiveness. 1000 acts begins with grace,
seeing the best in another. 1000 acts begins with one. Wonder what
one ( or two) I could do today that would bring the Kingdom to one,
and another, and another. 1000 acts and the world becomes a
different place. 1000 acts. But today, I will start with one.

Vision

Vision is essential. But at times casting that vision, speaking and
revealing it can be so difficult. Imagine Isaiah having to tell
people who are captured and taken to another land, a land whose
language and customs are odd or even revolting that they have a
future, that the Lord is at work. Buried in the sea of heartache who
can believe that! Leaders who distribute hope, as leaders do, must
have a deep well of God's heart and a real sense of His majesty.
Once that vision flows from the heart of the Lord keep speaking it
even when... it seems impossible, it seems like a pipe dream, even
when the resources and talent are yet to be visible, even when your
own heart is traumatized, even when you are unsure yourself.

I want to live the pattern of Isaiah, to hear from the Lord what He
is doing and keep distributing hope, that the Kingdom of God is here,
that even though it seems impossible the Lord can bring a
resurrection when we are sure we are dying. Leaders, NEVER STOP
SPEAKING THE DREAM OF GOD. NEVER!