Nancy Beach

I Must Admit...

    We have a two-car garage and are blessed with 3 cars (one driven/shared by our daughters).  So in the bleak midwinter we have decided to rotate week by week who has the privilege and joy of parking outside.  This is my week to be the lucky outdoor girl, and of course, we're getting lots of snow.  In the early hours as I'm trying to rush off to the health club, it's a delight to be brushing off snow in my running shorts!

     And yet...in spite of the hassel...I must admit the snow is absolutely beautiful.  My back yard looks like the front of a perfect Christmas card, and I'm more in the mood than ever to celebrate the sublime gift of Emmanuel, the fun of gathering with family and friends, and the process of final rehearsals on our Christmas services.  Yes, driving is a pain and requires extra patience and time.  But I'm going to choose to replace my whining with wonder...at least until mid January!

Missing Monk Already

     I just watched the final episode of Monk. I will miss that character!  Tony Shaloub crafted such a unique man, one who provoked empathy from viewers like me who rooted for him to overcome his serious OCD and the tragic loss of his wife.  Monk so often made me laugh on Friday nights when the accumulated work of the previous week always catches up with me and I'm laying on my couch, secretly reading People magazine.  Not an exotic picture of vitality, I know!

     The finale wrapped up with a brief highlight montage to a new Randy Newman song about how we'll miss him when he's gone.  I know I will. Anyone else a Monk fan?

Learning About Enneagrams

     I facilitate a little mentoring group of young women leaders.  Today we gathered after reading the book, The Wisdom of the Enneagram, by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson.  For those not familiar with this word, the enneagrams are nine personality types.  My friend Shauna Niequist has explored this subject matter with a lot of depth and energy, and she graciously agreed to meet with our group and share some of her learnings.

     Some tests that show us our patterns or strengths do not provide pathways for growth and development within our personality type.  This book is definately an exception.  Shauna was extremely helpful in showing us ways to more clearly discern our type and then move toward greater health as we fully express ourselves at work and in the home.

     I learned that I'm a "3" (Achiever) with a "2-wing", which essentially means I'm a "Charmer."  Not sure yet how I feel about that!  I certainly relate to the dark side of this type.  Shauna says you feel like someone has been spying on you when you read the warning signs of your type and have it correctly identified.  Yep, I felt found out!  Yet it's incredibly freeing to more clearly understand your tendencies, your fallback patterns, and how you naturally respond to certain situations.  I am very motivated to explore this further, and to discover my husband's type so we can relate more graciously to one another.  

     I'd love to hear from anyone who is familiar with the Enneagrams and wants to weigh in on whether this has been a helpful journey or not for you...

Calm Before the Storm

     This past holiday weekend was such a huge gift to me.  After lots of travel, I enjoyed some refreshing downtime with family and friends.  We celebrated Thanksgiving at my sister's home, and the next three days were extremely low-key.  I especially appreciated the time because I am serving as Executive Producer of our church's Christmas services this year, and December will be very full and intense.

     For all the church staff and volunteers at churches everywhere who give the gift of meaningful Christmas services to their community, December is a month of sacrifice.  On top of the potential busyness everyone else experiences, we add rehearsals and, in some churches, multiple services.  I so appreciate the volunteers from our church who willingly give time to make 12 services happen.  This year we're including one service on December 22 entirely in Spanish.  I heartily endorse this idea, but it makes for many challenges for the arts and production team!  We have two different "casts" and extra rehearsal to make that all work.

     I love our theme this year - "God With Us", which is, of course, the name Emmanuel for Jesus. We are going to explore the myriad of ways in which God has been with us as individuals and as a community in the past year.  I am so looking forward to the live stories that will serve as a witness of God's powerful presence.  He has truly been "with us" even when we fail to recognize Him, even when we can go for hours or even days at a time without being aware of His grace and breathtaking goodness. In times of great pain as well as times of unspeakable joy, God makes HImself known to those who look for Him.  In the next few weeks that look so very full on my calendar, I intend to practice awareness of God's presence as best I can.  I don't want to miss out on the wonder of this season - so I must keep my eyes and ears and heart wide open. May you, my brothers and sisters, do the same...

Inspired in South Africa

     I returned yesterday from a week of serving Arts leaders and pastors in three South African cities - Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg.  Repeatedly, I was inspired by the servants I had the privilege to engage with.  I will describe just one church as an example of what I witnessed...

     After a full day of teaching in Johannesburg, I met with pastor Gary Rivas and three of his teammates.  They started Lonehill Church just 5 years ago in an affluent suburb, an area quite hostile to Christianity.  Now they have over 1,000 attenders every week!  Over 86% of their attenders were previously non-churched.  This community of faith meets in a school, and soon will have 4 services.  They miraculously were able to purchase land and sometime in March, they will move into their new facility.  Associated with the Methodist denomination, they have lifted the sights of other Methodist churches in South Africa by their example.

     Some neighbors of the church have been concerned about the noise and traffic caused by the weekly gatherings.  However, this group of believers is gaining a huge amount of respect for their commitment to the under-resourced.  They give a huge percentage away, and are involved in weekly projects serving the poor.  This generosity is having a significant impact on the critics.

     My spirits were lifted by the faithfulness of these leaders, and by the bright light they are shining in their corner of the world.  I could tell several other stories, but the bottom line is that I'm certain I received more than I gave in South Africa.  As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, my heart could not be more full of gratitude for what God is doing through so many local churches who are ushering in the hope of the gospel.  May you have a blessed Thanksgiving, and rejoice in our mighty God penetrating even the most broken places with His love and grace.

One More Trip

     I have been traveling quite a bit this Fall, perhaps a little more than I should.  But today I leave for one more journey before the end of the year, this time to South Africa.  I am flying with my husband.  He will stay in Johannesburg the entire time, meeting with our church's strategic partners.  I will be leading three different workshops for arts leaders - first in Durban, then Cape Town, and finishing in Johannesburg.  I haven't been to this country since a brief visit in college decades ago.  I look forward to connecting with church artists there, and to building a new network of relationships.  While many of their challenges will be different from those we face in the States, I suspect we will also discover some common ground.  Everywhere I go, church artists are dealing with amazingly similar experiences.  I hope and pray that God will use me to ennoble and encourage them.

     After this trip, it will be wonderful not to see an airport again until January.  I am more of a homebody than I like to admit, and my soul and body needs a little nesting!  As the Executive Producer of our Christmas services at Willow this year, I will quickly jump back into rehearsals and meetings...but at least I'll be sleeping in my own bed!

Ministry in Seattle

     I'm in Seattle - and guess what, it's raining!  (the people who live here are very sensitive about their reputation for rain, but some stereotypes are just true...)   I'm a part of a Southern Baptist Regional Conference here, and have enjoyed meeting with some church leaders trying to build thriving churches in a part of the country where ministry often feels like an uphill climb.  Both the Northwest and New England are becoming places that feel more like Canada and Europe when it comes to the challenge of building a church.  I am inspired by the faithfulness of these men and women who are faithfully continuing to be a bright light in this area that so desperately needs the love of Christ.  Many of them moved here to plant churches, beginning with very few people, no money, and just a heart for the people who call the Northwest home. I consider it an honor to be numbered among them as a Christ follower.

The Power of an Invitation

     Last week a family friend called to tell me his mother has gone to heaven. My memories of this woman and her husband go back decades because they were THE family we celebrated holidays with, went to Cubs games with, laughed on the beach during vacations with...they were probably our closest family friends.  When I got the call, I was not surprised because this beautiful lady had been ill for some time.  Her son told me that the memorial service, to be held this Thursday, will be very small.  He's only inviting a few people "who knew her well and loved her."  I felt honored to be included, and will move around my schedule to make sure I am there to help celebrate her long and excellent life.

     There's something powerful about certain invitations.  We all receive casual invites all the time:  "Why don't we get together soon?" Usually we don't really mean it, and move right on with our busy lives.  But when we are intentionally included in a gathering because we are known and loved...that's a different story.

     I thought about this invitation business yesterday as our church celebrated the sacrament of communion. Jesus invites those who know Him and love Him to gather for remembering, for focusing, for confessing, for giving thanks for His sacrifice.  It is an honor that we dare not become cavalier about.  As I brought the bread and cup to my mouth, I realized how many times I have been invited to join with a community of faith in this most holy moment.  What a privilege and profound gift of grace to be included among the followers of Jesus, to be invited to the table.

Gathering in Kelowna

     I'm heading tomorrow to Kelowna, a lovely city in western Canada.  On Tuesday evening, I will gather with a group of local church artists for dialogue about ministry, culture, creativity, and whatever else we find to explore.  I look forward to connecting with my Canadian friends and finding out more about their challenges these days.  Then on Wednesday I will have the opportunity to facilitate a "Gifted to Lead" workshop for women in leadership.  

     God is giving me a little gift while I'm there - the chance to see some friends from Willow who now minister in Kelowna.  Dave and Nicole Huber were on the Willow team for many years, but are actually native Canadians.  Dave now leads the arts ministry at Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna.  Wayne Alguire served as the Campus Pastor for Willow McHenry.  His wife, Brenda, was a part of our worship ministry.  I can't wait to reunite with them and enjoy dinner in their home.  Wayne is currently serving as a Lead Pastor at Trinity Baptist.

     Throughout our lives, all of us cross paths with so many remarkable people.  I imagine heaven as partly a big reunion when we can catch up with one another, discover how God worked throughout our brief time on earth, and affirm once again our love for these treasured friends.  So this week, I'll have a little taste of heaven!

INDIANA BEAUTY

     Last Thursday and Friday, my husband and I drove to Indiana so our daughter could explore Butler University and Indiana University.  Both of these campuses are noted for their staggering beauty - and their Fall leaves were blazing at peak color.  I found myself saying "Wow" more times than I could count.  Apparently, one of the earliest Presidents of IU, in the midst of heavy construction, decreed that for every tree they took down they would plant two.  As a result of his foresight, the campus is bursting with trees everywhere you look.  At Butler, the campus features both a forest and garden area, along with a lovely path bordering a creek.  I saw a line of turtles sunning themselves in a row, perched on a log, and delighted in the ducks passing by.  When I returned home to the Chicago area, the maple trees had finally burst out in their golden oranges and fiery reds.  I must be careful not to get in a car accident because I'm so easily distracted by the breathtaking beauty of Autumn.

     And to think...we worship the God who thought this whole leaf idea up!  I stand in utter amazement at the Creativity of our Magnificent Designer.  The seasons remind me every year what a wondrous gift life is.  Even as I contemplate a season coming very soon when both my girls will be away in college, I know that the God who ushers in the Fall colors each year can be trusted with my own times of transition and awkward adjustments...even times of uncertainty and loss.