Illuminators

Tuesday, I spent most of the day either on a plane or in one airport or another.  I enjoy airports and planes.  Sometimes it is nice to be forced to just sit, to read, to people watch and to not do much of anything else.  Plus, at airports I always get my steps in.

This trip I noticed the napkin I received with my ginger ale.  Here’s a picture of it. 

It took me back about 35 years when Pastor Dick Borrud came to town – Livonia, MI - where I was the Assistant to the Pastor for Youth and Families. He asked me to find a café for us to have coffee and talk.  A café, I thought, in the Detroit area?  I stressed over that, believe me.  Anyway, this man taught me so much and often on napkins with his black Sharpie marker.  I learned how youth ministry had to be based on three types of events.  You can see them pictured below.  There is so much Dick’s napkins taught me!  It’s astounding. 

One, of many, things I learned from him was that relationships and relationship building are the most important things in youth ministry, church ministry, and all of life.  Loving people no matter what and taking genuine interest in them with active listening skills is tops.  I always taught youth these skills. 

Last night we went to Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine, Indiana. It was hard to find a Wednesday evening Advent service.  These are some of my favorite services in the liturgical year.  So, I was happy we attended.  Cross of Grace is a very relational congregation with two outstanding pastors, Mark Havel and Cogan Blackmon. These pastors created a series called “What Child is This:  Seeing and Being Seen This Christmas.”  They are helping us learn from a book by David Brooks, “How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen” where he talks about, and encourages, all people to be “Illuminators” who are truly interested in others and makes them feel seen, heard, and important in life.  You can listen to the “Illuminators” sermon here.  There is even an interactive Advent calendar online they’ve created for people to use and learn more about this important topic.  I could go on and on, but you will then stop reading.  Check out the book.  Be an Illuminator.  Start writing more on napkins.

Grab a napkin as you never know when the best ideas will hit, and go out and illuminate the world!