Nancy Beach

First Day of Vacation/Blogger Takes a Nap

My husband always says the very best night of the year is the first night of an extended vacation.  Not Christmas Eve, not his birthday, not even the NCAA Basketball Finals – all are trumped by that night of expectation before a break.  I’m not sure what this says about how he feels about his work!  Actually, though Warren loves his ministry in serving the under-resourced, I realize that he’s just plain tired.  And we were created to take time to rest.  The Europeans, Australians, and Canadians all seem to grasp the concept of extended time off much better than we Americans.  Most people in the U.S. don’t take more than a week off at once, and most of us leave days of unused vacation on the table.  Am I the only one who thinks this is a problem?  I haven’t even mentioned the fact that most people who take a vacation don’t really disconnect anymore because their e-mail and cell phone follows them everywhere and they never mentally and emotionally unhook from thoughts about work.

So today, July 1, marks the start of a one month break my husband and I are taking.  (I love that word, taking, because it’s a strong verb that sounds like we are highly intentional!).  Most of the month we will actually be at home, with just a few days out of town.  I intend to stop blogging, and to only rarely check e-mails.  This fast from technology is, admittedly, easier for me than for many others because I don’t really like all that tech connection anyway.  But it will still be a discipline to focus my mind, heart, and soul on that which so rarely gets my attention.  I want to slow down and breathe and take long walks and read slowly and sit across the table from loved ones lingering in conversation.  I want to reflect on this past year – where God has taken me and where He might be leading next.  I want to sleep and laugh and eat and run…ok, I really don’t want to run but if I’m going to eat, I have to run!

So early August, I’ll be back on the net.  Until then, may you seize the wonders of your days this summer.  May you find moments of refreshment and peace.  And may all of us end up loving God and others with greater passion and energy because, for a time, we have chosen to rest.

OFF TO CAMP

     Tomorrow I will head toward Kanakuk camp with my younger daughter.  This will be her 9th year as a camper, and so much of the fun is just the experience of heading down to Branson, treasuring all our little traditions about where to stop for lunch, what we do in St. Louis along the way, and the souvenir shop we simply must visit right before dropping her at camp.  With humidity in Chicago feeling like 150%, I can only imagine what it will be like further south!

     One of the gifts in life I most cherish is the sense of predictable rhythms throughout the passing years.  I am absolutely crazy about each one of the seasons, even winter when I tend to whine more than a little.  This may very well be my daughter's last year at camp, so each stop we make may hold a bittersweet touch of melancholy.  I don't like endings very much; the thought of letting go of these predictable rhythms is disconcerting.

     As you head into the heart of summer wherever you may be, I hope you hold on to a few experiences that you simply must do every year.  It can be as simple as the ice cream shop you have to visit or the bike ride down a familiar path or a mini-golf tournament with friends or family.  Let's breathe in the wonders of summer and try hard not to complain about heat or humidity, knowing that come January we would kill for days like this!

MAJOR FLIGHT DELAY - (and thoughts about women in leadership)

     I'm sitting in the Vancouver airport, anticipating a minimum five-hour flight delay because of mechanical problems.  I just want to get home to celebrate Fathers Day!  There is a radio part that they must fly in from San Francisco and replace before we have any hope of departing - which will get me home at about 2:00 in the morning...

     Life is full of surprises and delays.  For those of us who like to plan and control, this is incredibly frustrating.  But I'm learning to roll with the punches.  So instead of stewing over something I can't possibly change, I'm thinking back to the past few days of ministry in Calgary and Vancouver (actually, Abbotsford, BC).

     In both cities, I had the privilege of speaking to women leaders in the church.  These were women of all ages, both staff and volunteers, who fill a variety of roles in their ministries.  I was recalling today that in the past 10 months I have led workshops for women leaders in Chicago, London, Bristol (England), Melbourne, Sydney, San Francisco, La Mesa, Dallas, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver.  Every one of these events surfaced similar issues, and frankly, a lot of pain.  It seems that once women are given permission to describe what their experience has been trying to lead in the church, they are freed up to express a level of disappointment that still catches me by surprise and troubles me.  I'm amazed at the stories I have heard, and even more astounded that these same women continue to faithfully serve, persevering for the cause of Christ.  Many of them are hugely under-valued and under-utilized (and under-paid if they are paid at all).  Some of them are shamed for ever bringing up issues about title or job description or salary, told that if they were true servants, they wouldn't be displaying such prideful character.  My emotions vary from anger about the injustice to sadness for my sisters in pain to inspiration for their determination to continue in ministry.  

     I am trusting that God, who knows every one of these stories, will be faithful and provide wisdom.  And in the meantime, I will continue to gather these women together in a room if only to let them know they are not alone, their issues are shared by others, and their ministry matters more than they could possibly know.  

     This work among women leaders is not a calling I ever sought - in fact, I have only entered this arena reluctantly.  But if God has used me this past season to bring any encouragement to these incredible leaders, then I am profoundly grateful for that privilege.  So many of them are now heroes to me.

     Now if I could just get home to Chicago....

POST-WONDER REFLECTIONS

     Yesterday I walked three blocks from my home to a little nature sanctuary called Bakers Lake.  It's a small refuge for migrating birds, with no boats allowed, hidden in the middle of an active suburban neighborhood.  I have a favorite bench to sit on, and I sat there for awhile reflecting on the Arts Conference last week.  Watching the water reflections dance upward on the deep green leaves hovering above me, observing an egret strut on the island and reach out its elegant neck, and feeling the warm sun on my face, I celebrated once again the God of Wonder.  I am one grateful woman this week.

     God showed up in countless ways through the event, anointing every aspect, and doing the supernatural business that only God can do.  I have heard several of our guests say that they received "just what they most needed" either in a workshop, main session, or a conversation.  On Thursday evening, I stopped in as hundreds enjoyed the annual Film Festival, honoring great work from local church video teams.  On the other side of the campus, hundreds of others experienced worship led by Charlie Hall.  What a glorious group of days we enjoyed with one another!  The final coda was an outstanding message from Pastor Effrem Smith, a leader who says he is really an artist turned pastor.  Effrem challenged us to be rooted not in our brokenness, but in the truth that we are the beloved.  I'll not soon forget his closing exhortation for us to JUMP - this summer, I want to figure out in what ways God is calling me to jump, to trust Him more fully, and to follow His whispers into the next leg of the journey.

     For all those who were able to join us, I am grateful for the sacrifices you made to be in Chicago.  For those who could not make it work, you were missed...and we do understand.  We look forward to a CCN one-day Arts Event next February 19 that all of us will be able to afford and experience right in our home-towns.  More on that later...but for now, I'm just basking with gratitude in the wonder of it all...WOW!

"Bring it On, God!"

     Jim Mellado interviewed Catherine Rohr this past weekend at our services. She is the dynamic young founder of a prison ministry (PEP) that trains and equips men in the Texas prison system to re-enter society ready to take on a responsible job in society.  Catherine was a well-paid venture capitalist in New York City when she gave her life to Christ.  Shortly after that, she prayed a dangerous prayer:  "Bring it on, God!"  Catherine devoted herself to following wherever God might lead, never guessing she'd end up moving to Texas and serving prisoners.  Her ministry is highly effective and her testimony is incredibly inspiring.

     After the service I pondered my own journey.  At a key juncture in my early 20's, I surrendered myself to God's plan, hoping the answer would be serving him as a producer in Hollywood, crafting film and/or television with my Christian world view.  But God directed me to invest my energies and gifts in the local church.  I've said often that I thought to myself, "That's a loser option."  Only people who aren't very good in the arts use their gifts in the church."  But God asked me to trust Him...and after fighting the calling for a few months, I finally surrendered.  

     That was about 26 years ago. I now see the adventure I would have missed had I followed my own plan.  It's been an incredible journey, and I am deeply grateful for the highs and even the lows, for the opportunity to ennoble and equip church artists.  

     But how often since then do I pray dangerous prayers?  Have I prayed any lately?  How easy it is to grow comfortable, to stop fully surrendering, to just keep going along with what we are used to. We all know that there is a huge risk in asking God to "bring it on."  Have you prayed anything that bold in recent days?  My own faith and trust need to be stretched - can anyone identify with that?

Every Little Step

     My husband and I took our older daughter this evening to a special cinema where they were showing the documentary, Every Little Step.  The film portrays the casting process for the revival a couple years ago of the Broadway show, Chorus Line.  What a tremendous story, especially for my daughter who is studying theatre as a freshman in college.  The film portrays the discipline, the struggle, the highs and lows of performers who are hugely gifted and yet competing for just a few roles.  The initial audition drew 3,000 people!  We were also reminded that in musical theatre, each performer has to be "a triple threat" - incredibly strong as dancers, vocalists, and actors.  My heart went out to those who longed for a part and just missed.

    I absolutely love any films that tell the story behind the story.  And in this case, I was once again inspired by the dedication of young artists to do what they love, to excel in their craft, to sacrifice so much for their dreams.  I wonder how many artists are that disciplined in our local churches, willing to continually stretch themselves, continually developing their skills, practicing hour upon hour upon hour.  It's so easy for all of us to become comfortable wherever we are at and to slide into the monotony of a comfort zone.  I was challenged to ask myself how I can improve, what would be required to take my own gifts to another level of excellence and effectiveness.

UNITED IN PRAYER

     Pam Howell, our Director of Training for the Arts (we call her the Wonderologist) organized an hourly prayer campaign today for the Wonder Arts Conference next week.  Starting at 6:00 this morning, many of us began a journey of prayer together at the top of each hour.  We will find ourselves in meetings or, in my case at 7:00 am, on a treadmill, remembering to pray for specific needs connected to the event.

     There's something incredibly meaningful about praying at the same time as other artists and pastors, many scattered all over the country.  I feel as though we are going into battle together, in the best sense of that idea.  A few months ago, we didn't even know if we could get  1500 folks to come to Chicago for a conference given the economic crisis.  God has already provided far beyond our imagination, with the number now approaching 2700.  Together we now ask our Sovereign Creator to prepare the volunteers, protect the travelers, and anoint every workshop and main session.  We are asking for supernatural help because nothing else will produce any fruit that remains.  I thank all those who are praying and invite others to join, even if for just a moment.  I believe the God of wonder will do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think to ask for.  Now I hope I can remember to stop at my computer in 15 minutes for the next prayer assignment!

DISINVITING TEAM MEMBERS

     I just got off the phone with an arts leader from a church in western Canada.  He is trying to take his music worship team to the next level and believes that some of the faithful current team members do not possess the music skill required.  Of course, they are veterans who have sacrificed so much for the team, and are much loved, etc.  It would be so much easier if they were jerks!  Together we talked about the difficult meetings and conversations he will lead as he trims his team.

     I told him that he needs to expect this process to be difficult, and that he should know going in that he won't do it perfectly.  It's vital for him to explain the core values of the worship ministry to the team, and explain why he believes the church needs them to improve their musical quality while at the same time ministering with authenticity and strong spiritual character.  We discussed how the Evil One will try to sow divisiveness and tempt the team to spread slander.  He plans to call everyone on the current team to doing this process as "big people", those who want to follow Christ with their tongues and their attitudes.

     Most of all, arts leaders need to recognize that they are not alone in these experiences.  I have similar conversations all around the world.  What a delicate juggling act we do seeking to honor faithful people while continuing to pursue more effective ministry.  There are no manuals for this sort of thing, but we truly can help one another.  What have you learned along these lines?  Do you have any further advice for my Canadian friend?

SUMMER'S STARTING LINE!

     Is there any greater day than Memorial Day for that feeling of anticipation - all of summer lies ahead of us!  After such a grueling, relentless winter in the Chicago area, most people around here are almost giddy with the joys of working in the yard, taking a bike ride, throwing baseballs or frisbees, and simply enjoying any possible activity that can be done outside.  Memorial Day weekend is filled with exhilaration the same way that Labor Day weekend is tinged with melancholy.

     As we approach the summer days (and don't most of us adults wish we had a total summer off like back in our school years!), I find a need to be determined not to miss it.  I'm already thinking about books I want to read, walks I want to take, friends I want to connect with.  Before we know it, September will arrive.  Between now and then, what do you intend to experience?  How will you seize the summer?

VIRTUAL FRIENDSHIPS

     One more post about friendship - which will be the subject of my teaching this weekend.  I've been thinking a lot about how technology has affected the way we do friendship these days.  I think there have definately been some wins with the use of the Internet - and yet I also have some concerns that some of us are engaging more in pseudo-community than the real thing.  The hours that can be spent on Facebook or Twitter or even texting aren't a magic replacement for the face-to-face encounters that deepen relationships.  Here's what Anne Jackson had to say in Leadership magazine:

I believe what happens online is connection, not community.  People can be vulnerable and

honest online.  And at times these online connections can be more life-giving than many of

our offline relationships, but they are not the same.

When we spend more time staring at a glowing monitor than we do into the eyes of those we

love, or need to love, it might be time to shut off the computer.

     I think Anne makes a wise distinction between connection and community.  When I read most Facebook updates on my wall, I learn very little about how most people are really doing, deep down.  And that's ok........but it's not enough.  There's something about the nonverbal cues, facial expressions, and tone of voice in the face-to-face contacts that are essential to the building of meaningful friendships.  Wednesday evening I got to sit across the table for over 2 hours with a treasured friend who has moved to another state and was in town for a visit.  It was the highlight of my week so far.  Sure, we talk on the phone and e-mail one another.  But nothing tops really, truly being together and living in the spaces of genuine conversation.

     In our service this weekend, we are going to have some fun with two brief drama scenes each placed in different parts of my message.  One portrays a guy who is totally isolated in virtual world, competing in on-line gaming and connecting with thousands of people through Facebook.  Yet this guy does not pursue any face-to-face friendships.  It's quite funny, and I hope that though it's exaggerated, it will make its point.  The other scene shows the upside of technology. A young woman whose friend has moved away is Skyping her to bring a word of encouragement before that friend heads into a huge presentation at work.  This young woman is intentionally doing what she can to show up for her friend using whatever tools she can.

     As you head out to enjoy Memorial Day weekend, I hope you will intentionally pursue some time with friends.  Don't hide behind your computer, but actually give someone a call and get together.  There's nothing like the real deal of friendship!  And let me know, when you get a chance, how technology has been affecting your relational world...