I just finished reading "Through Painted Deserts" by Don Miller. If you haven't read it, it's about a road trip he took with a buddy from Texas to Oregon and how he learned about God and friendship and grace and beauty through the events of the trip. It leads into another of his books "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years", even though he wrote two other books between them. His main point is that our lives are stories. Stories are made up of memorable scenes. He says, "the thing about making memorable scenes is they aren't easy. It would be easier to just stand around talking but nobody would remember the story." We should live our story so it can be told to others. Tell them about the friendships we've made, the trips we've taken, the experiences we've shared together in community, and how God has revealed Himself to us through our story.
I like camping. Anyone who has spent any amount of time with me knows how excited I get about spending time in the woods. I try to spread this passion to others, and sometimes it sticks and other times it doesn't. When it doesn't, I just go by myself. When you are alone in the woods, with just your outdoor knowledge and man-skills, you don't have to entertain others. You can sit quietly for hours thinking and watching nature, read a good book around a campfire, and hike distances you wouldn't be able to do with a group. Let me tell you, there is nothing better than a 5am hike to a bluff where you can watch the sunrise and have your quiet time with God. (followed by a long hike back and a short nap) When I go alone, I have so many more stories to tell upon my return. I didn't share my experiences with anyone while they were happening, so I get to relive it over and over again to anyone who gets caught within earshot of my "big adventure in the wild". I get to go camping next weekend with some of my favorite people and share in a story with them. I'm excited.
Another passion of mine is music, probably too much. I always have songs stuck in my head. Yes, plural. It's a musician thing. Music is always best in a group setting, though I'm not dissing the magic that earbuds give to the human brain. Last night my band got the chance to play a show with other local musicians. I knew only a few people in attendance, but it felt like family. Everyone head-bobbing and clapping along, shouting and singing. I feel very blessed to live in an area with such great musicians and music lovers of all kinds. It brought to mind a song by LaDispute called "Nine."
And I remember in a basement sharing sweat
With all these stranger boys and girls,
“We’ll change the world!” We sang,
“We’ll change the world!” But,
Nothing seems to change and
They say none of them will listen,
But I still see much more power in that basement
than in heartless politicians.
I have felt this community of music before. It doesn't seem to happen in the obvious places though. Not at the big venue shows, nor at churches events, but rather in basements, living rooms, around campfires, in parking lots, tops of cliffs overlooking the river. The people are there because they want to be there. They want to be a part of a community of music lovers as they all share in something special, as they make memorable scenes in their stories.
