A Church for Starving Artists

[Note: This week, I hope to remind myself of things that will make 2018 a good year for me and for the people around me.  Maybe they’ll speak to you too.]

#3– Life Tip for a New Year: Not All Leaders Are Created Equal

Yes, everybody gets a trophy these days but not all leaders are equal.  I find in Church Word – and I believe it’s also true in Academic World, Medical World, Banking World, Sports World and every other world – that we often have people in leadership positions who are not good leaders.

Maybe they rose to their position because they fulfilled a demographic but demographics don’t guarantee passion or fitness for a particular role.  I was once asked to chair a Singles Ministry in my first Presbytery because I was single.  Nobody asked me if I had a vision for this.  Nobody asked me if I had energy for this particular ministry.  (I didn’t.)

Maybe “nobody else would do it” which means that we should stop doing whatever “it” is, until there is indeed deep calling and commitment to that thing.  If nobody wants to lead Vacation Bible School, don’t have Vacation Bible School this year.  Just don’t.  One of two things will happen:  1) Someone who’s been shy about stepping up – even though he/she feels inspired to do it – is nudged enough to step up or 2) Vacation Bible School has become something “we have to do” not something that makes a positive impact in our community.  If nobody wants to be in charge of the next project that your organization “always does” just don’t do it – at least this year.

Maybe someone aspires to be a leader but they have no followers.  Something I learned in Community Organizing Training:  All Strong Leaders have followers.  Notice who on your board does not inspire others, and when it’s time to recruit new members, look for people whom others will get behind.

Strong leaders have the trust of their people to the point that they inspire energy and vision while also holding people accountable. Their people feel safe and supported. Communication is excellent and the only surprises are birthday parties.

You know what weak leaders do.

I pray for solid leadership training in this new year whether we spend our lives shepherding churches, hospitals, businesses, or sports teams.  There is so much we can do to make this world better.

Who will lead us?  There are some excellent choices out there.

Image of the great John Wooden, one of the greatest coaches and leaders of our time, upon his death at the age of 99.

[Note: This week, I hope to remind myself of things that will make 2018 a good year for me and for the people around me.  Maybe they’ll speak to you too.]

Balbir Singh Sodhi was killed because of ignorance – as well as hate.

#2– Life Tip for a New Year: Do The Research

I loved Kumail Nanjiani’s monologue on SNL last fall – especially this part:

Here’s my problem with most racism.  It’s the inaccuracy. That’s what bugs me.  So I’m like, “Do the research! Put in the work! You will see the benefits!”  I’ll give you an example:

If someone yells at me, “Go back to India!” I’d be like “that guy’s an idiot.” But if someone was like, “Go back to Pakistan which was part of India ’til 1947 and is now home to the world’s largest salt mine” I would be like “that guy seems to know what he’s talking about. I’ll pack my bags!”  Just because you’re a racist, you don’t have to be ignorant.  An informed racist is a better racist.

If I truly believe that transgender women want to attack other women and girls in public bathrooms, I need to become less ignorant.  I need to read this book perhaps.

If I truly believe that all Trump voters are racist, I need to talk with some Trump voters personally –  or better, I need to listen.

If I truly believe that all immigrants from Muslim countries are terrorists, I need to watch The Big Sick or talk to someone who has come to the United States from Sudan or Jordan or Indonesia in hopes of starting a new and better life. Get some coffee together.

If I truly believe that all undocumented people from Central America are “rapists and criminals” trying to “take our jobs” maybe I need to talk to the undocumented high school honor student at my son’s school from Honduras and hear the story of his family’s escape from a death squad. Or maybe I need to talk to the tomato pickers in Florida who are willing to work in the Florida sun for eight hours a day at minimum wage because they are that desperate to work.  I met a man there who came to this country after his daughter was kidnapped by traffickers in El Salvador.  He hopes to  save enough money to hire someone to help him find her.  There are many honor students who are undocumented.  There are many undocumented workers who pay taxes and take any job they can find to offer a better life for their families.

We need to know what we are talking about.  Fake news is real (but – ironically – it’s not coming from credentialed journalists and researchers.)  Just because someone tweets it, doesn’t mean it’s true.

Again, I offer this tip because I myself need to be reminded.  If I want my own opinions to be affirmed, I usually take the easy route and believe what supports what I already believe.  Maybe this tip is for you too.  For the love of God, we need to do our research.

Image of Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh shop owner from Mesa, Arizona who had just purchased an American flag to hang outside his business in response to the terrorist attack on 9-11-01 when an ignorant man – thinking he was a Muslim because of his beard and turban – killed him in cold blood.  Unfortunately, there are scores of stories  about innocent people killed because someone was ignorant – as well as criminally violent. 

Also it’s not ok to kill anyone because of their faith.

I was going to call these “Evangelism Tips” but you’d probably roll your eyes.  The truth is that the way we live our lives is our #1 Evangelism Tool in terms of showing people what the love of Jesus looks like.  But that sounds a bit pious, so we’ll go with Life Tips.

This week, I hope to remind myself of things that will make 2018 a good year for me and for the people around me.  Maybe they’ll speak to you too.

#1 – Life Tip for a New Year: Treat our colleagues well.

Whether you are the manager of a tomato farm in Immokalee, Florida or a member of a church or denominational staff, treating people fairly is a Biblical assumption.  Treating people generously is Christ-like.

In real life terms, this translates into keeping our people safe (whether that means well-lit parking lots or protecting them from verbal, etc. abuse) and keeping our people happy.

Many congregations “cannot afford” to give their church staffs raises or bonuses or even Christmas gifts.  Yes, things are tight all around, but a happy, healthy staff leads to a happy, healthy congregation.  We can start by saying “please” and “thank you” after a busy season or a retreat or a big funeral.

Most congregations can find the money and/or the time to treat their staffs to a meal or a gift card or a hand-written note of appreciation.  This is also true for schools, retail businesses, banks, hospitals, and every kind of office.  (I’m looking at you HR and Personnel Departments – if you have them.  If not, this is on you, Boss/Owner.)

If we cannot trust and stand up for our people, we need new people.  (Or it could be that we need a new supervisor.)  If I wouldn’t take a proverbial bullet for my colleagues, I’m in the wrong field or I need to talk to those colleagues about the problem.  Strong teams stick together, appreciate each other, hold each other accountable, and trust each other.

This is a great season to plan to be better colleagues.  It’s not only the right thing to do, but organizations that treat their people well are more successful organizations. [Note:  Good Colleagues are not the same as Best Friends, but that’s for another post.]

Have a great first Tuesday of the year.

. . . the things we have been waiting for become real.  And things we never imagined become real too.
On this very date last year, my friends J and T were alive and well.  Our perfect grand-nephew had not yet been born and I was looking forward to General Assembly trips to Lebanon and Syria and Italy while continuing to serve Chicago Presbytery.

On this first day of 2018, as with the first days of other years, I’m well aware that the future brings both expected and unexpected adventures moving swiftly through deep joy and deep loss.  And because I do not take my life span for granted, this is the day I re-write my funeral plans each year.  They are in my phone and if you happen to be with me on that particular day, look under “If I Die Today” in my notes.  You’ll find what you need.

Some of my death plans don’t change much – cremation, hymns, speakers.  But the letter I hope someone will read at the service will be tweaked today.  (Yes, I’ve written a homily for my own funeral.)

Life is sweet even when it’s doesn’t seem very sweet.  And all it takes to want to live life to the full is to remember those moments in the past when we didn’t realize how happy we were, but then someone we treasured passed away and we wish we’d told them more often how amazing they were.

This could be the year that brings the miracles we’ve always wanted along with the struggles we’ve always avoided. It’s a good day to tell people how amazing they are.  Happy New Year!

Image of the last Edmiston Reunion with both of my parents, 1988.

[Note: Of all the ubiquitous annual reviews, my favorite is The Lives They Lived in the New York Times.  Death and the assessment of one’s life is among my favorite things to ponder. A good funeral makes me want to be more faithful.  A good life brings everlasting inspiration.]

Somebody beat me to the punch when he wrote about Maggie Roche here.  We didn’t know each other but she was a big part of my life.  HH and I attended every Roches concert at The Birchmere for decades and The Roches Christmas album was a staple in our family’s holiday playlist.

We were different in many ways as far as I can determine.  There is nothing about my voice that says “wow” much less “contralto.”  I am not personal friends with Paul Simon.  And if I learned I had breast cancer, I would certainly not wait a decade to tell people.  But the fact that breast cancer impacted her life is something that bonded us.  (Breast cancer is my special enemy.)

Her music brought joy from street corners in New York to Carnegie Hall, and that’s a lot.  To bring joy to the world in every season indicates a life well-lived – even the throes of financial insecurity and isolation.  The fact that her family considered her an angel was only the beginning of this world’s love for her.

One of The Roches’ hallmark pieces was their a cappella Hallelujah Chorus.  But my favorite song was Big Nuthin’.

[Note: Of all the ubiquitous annual reviews, my favorite is The Lives They Lived in the New York Times.  Death and the assessment of one’s life is among my favorite things to ponder. A good funeral makes me want to be more faithful.  A good life brings everlasting inspiration.]

Tom Schmid taught me four things:

• How to grow older.
• How to love my spouse.
• How to be a pastor.
• How to be a parent.

When we were colleagues in National Capital Presbytery, Tom was the wise older colleague without being that guy.  Clergy colleagues, you are probably familiar with those guys who need to pastor-splain even to those of us who’ve been in professional ministry for a while now.  (Seriously, I met a pastor who told me how to officiate a wedding for 30 minutes at an ordination party in 2017.  We’ve been ordained about the same number of years.)

Instead, Tom shared how having younger friends kept him sharp and how eating hot dogs – at least twice a year – was life-giving and how there was no “T” in Schmid and how being a “Golden Roo” was the best and how Beth was perfect.

He adored his kids and grandkids, and he encouraged them to be the people God created them to be.

When Tom became my second friend to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017, I was stunned.  We had just hung out in Sherman, TX in May and he was as chipper as ever.  At least that’s what he said.

Tom breathed his last on Christmas Day which is fitting in terms of what he believed about both the Incarnation and the Resurrection.  How beautiful to experience both miracles on the same day.

He was a great and good man.

Photo of Tom from his son Bennett.

[Note: Of all the ubiquitous annual reviews, my favorite is The Lives They Lived in the New York Times.  Death and the assessment of one’s life is among my favorite things to ponder. A good funeral makes me want to be more faithful.  A good life brings everlasting inspiration.]

Jeff Krehbiel’s life is evidence that being a faithful follower of Jesus has nothing to do with the current take on Christianity as portrayed in the media.  He was semi-obsessed with the belief that we should all be working to make the world as it should be, rather than accepting the world as it is. In the world as it is, money is power.  In the world as it should be, justice and compassion rule.

Jeff wrote a little book about how The Bible addresses this.  He believed that God created us to live and serve in community.  He believed that there is always hope for resurrection.  He believed that his spouse and daughters were close to perfect.

On the night that HH and I had a little party to welcome Jeff and Cheryl to Chicago from our beloved Washington, DC, we learned that his father had died.  Just a few weeks later, Jeff learned that he also had cancer.  And just a few weeks after that, Jeff also died.

But Jeff’s legacy lives on as NEXTChurch has fulfilled his dream for Community Organizing Training for church leaders and as interfaith organizers bring justice to the poor in places like DC and Northern Virginia and Baltimore.  He lives on in his amazing siblings and his mom and his colleagues and – especially – the loves of his life.  But in spite of these things, it feels strange to move into a new year without him.

Image from NEXTChurch.  Thank God we can still listen to his voice.

Sometimes I’m a latecomer in terms of “finds” (Exhibit A:  Kumail Nanjiani.  Where have I been?)

But here are my favorite discoveries – latecomer or not – over the past year.  I hope you find something interesting among them.

Elizabeth White is the author of 55, Unemployed, and Faking Normal – a title that immediately resonated with me.  She also has a TED Talk here.   Ms. White is a well-educated woman who went into “economic free fall” after losing  her job and all of her assets.  And her experience is especially important in these days after our own US Congress has overhauled our tax structure in a way that impacts all of us.  Having “money problems” is among the most shameful personal problems in our culture.  Ms. White talks about resilience and resource-sharing and living “low to the ground” as we prepare for what could be a lifespan of 80 or 90 years.

Janet Amuh is too young to have much of a social media presence.  She is a middle school student in a Chicago suburb whose art is getting a lot of attention in local exhibitions and galleries.  I bought one of her paintings at a fall festival as a Christmas gift to myself this year.  She is also an extraordinary musician and scholar.  Remember her name.  She is going to be famous.

Jean-Michel Basquait died at the age of 27 of a heroin overdose in 1988.  (Like I said, I am often a latecomer.)  But he lives on in his art which is so thought-provoking and weirdly beautiful.  Check it out.

Lisa Lucas became Executive Director of the National Book Foundation in 2016 and I love her taste in books.  Follow her on Twitter here.  Anyone who inspires us to read excellent literature is worth knowing better.

On the cusp of 2018, my hope is that we have all discovered people who amazed/intrigued/sparked new ideas in us.  Please share if you are dying to let us know about someone we should know.

And . . . this is my last post of the year.  See you in 2018.

Image of Woman in a Hat by Janet Amuh.

Merry Christmas!

When our own three kids were still in school and home, church leaders with kids in college or beyond would ask to be excused from evening meetings when their young adult children were in town.  This was semi-annoying to their judge-y pastor:  where was their commitment?

I get it now.

Although we talk with them often, we only see our 20-somethings a few times a year, especially since we live states away from FBC and SBC, and an ocean away from TBC.  I miss them.

When they are in town, I want to clear the decks and the calendar.

One of the joys of the season is blessing others with the joys of the season.  This is a great time to double our tips in diners and tell our postal workers how awesome they are.  It’s a great time to give everyone the afternoon off or take the preschool teachers their favorite coffees.

Why in the world would I begrudge my colleagues’ desire to spend precious time with their loved ones?  Because I was missing that part in the Bible about abundant life.

God wants us to experience joy and laughter and beauty and fun and goodness – and to offer that for others. For those who are working hard to make this season beautiful, let’s give them a smile, a break, a compliment, a night off.  Let’s share the sugar plums.  Merry Christmas Everyone!