This is all about changing people and what that implies in their relationships with people around them. Something happens, a book is opened, a ground breaking event affects the way a person thinks or a conversation begins that shapes the way a person views what’s happening in the world. Then a next step is required. Suddenly, you can’t think the way you’ve always thought. You’re no longer free to do as you’ve always done. Change has occurred and you now feel a sense of responsibility to do something about that change.

Another step is also required. Because of this new sense of urgency or because of a new-found passion or whatever the case may be, you feel a necessary pull to bring those closest to you along for the ride. Only, the problem is, they don’t necessarily want to come. There is a profound comfort in leaning in to the traditional method, not breaking the barriers of the thought processes that have always led them to the same conclusions. I think theirs is a fear and a knowledge of what change implies. People recognize that if change occurs, they will have to take action. Furthermore, they will also have to have these same conversations which force them to communicate with people who aren’t ready for change…that they have changed.

Ultimately, I think it is the basic idea of communicating change that prevents movements from happening. We make take any issue, but we will use race relations from the past century or two as it is recognized across the board. A change in thought began as some realized we are pressing forward “equal rights” and yet there are millions who are not given that respect. A passionate cry arose and people began to communicate a mindset shift which would ultimately require action and a movement happened. Now I do not mean to debase the process that affected so many by placing it in such simple terms, but suppose those who could affect change had kept quiet and refused to communicate this for fear of reprisal. No action would have taken place. But it seems it take the courage to get over that first step of communicating that “I have changed” to begin something.

As I’ve said, I think we can use any example to explore this idea, and I think ultimately we have to take this down to the minute levels of our everyday lives. That is, in some small way we are always changing and growing, but so often we suppress those ideas and do not communicate them for fear of destroying a friendship or frustrating the communication of a marriage. But, I wonder what kind of movements we are not witnessing as a result of the changed sealing their lips.

Mainly, I wonder what the revolutionaries say to themselves to finally press themselves over the cliff-edge and just begin the conversation. Is it an, “I no longer care what people think, we must begin this conversation,” or is it an “I care too much about you and what you think not to start this conversation,” or is it some hybrid between the two? What is the next step?

As I fleshed the question out, what I came around to was, how do you see God playing into your salvation and how does that affect you now in the way you live and in the way you see Him. Needless to say, a great conversation followed. We didn’t plan a Bible study. We didn’t have a structured format. I just asked a question about God and found out more abou their life and their family than I had originally intended. But it was perfect. It confirmed something about the discipleship question that’s been floating around here so much lately. Just doing life together, eating together, sitting around a fire pit on a back deck together and allowing lives to meld together is where its at. We don’t need the formalities.

After all, we’re all theologians. Its not about a seminary degree. The original Greek word for theology literally meant the study or knowledge or talk of God. If you’re seeking the knowledge of God, you’re a theologian. The question really is how good you are at it. We discovered on the backporch that evening that asking questions like “how do you see God” makes us better people. It makes us stop for a minute and say, “I don’t know. Let’s begin a conversation and flesh this out because I may be viewing God in a certain way that is causing me to live a certain way that I don’t need to be living in.” And that’s why I love to ask questions and do life with people.

How is it that you see God?

God: Hey

b/: I know, I’ve got to focus more, I want to grow deeper.

God: The reason you’re not growing is because you don’t want to.

b/: What? I can’t believe You would say that. But I am growing, I feel it. I’m reading a book a week at least and I’m being shaped in great ways.

God: Sure you’re being shaped, but that doesn’t mean we are growing closer together or that you know any more about me than you did. Sure you’re growing a little, but you’re not growing in leaps and bounds and deeper like I want you to.

b/: What? I still can’t believe you are telling me I don’t want it. I do want it. I get up early, I read and spend time with you.

God: You are paying lip service to “wanting it.” You really think that is in depth time. You rush through a little bit of scripture and are more worried about getting a blog post written. If you really wanted to grow, you would spend time with me. I don’t care when you do it. But you’re not spending time with me. If you really want this, then you’ll grow, because you will be intentional about us. But until you really want it, you’re gonna stay right where you are.

b/: Dang it. I know.

For real, that just happened.

One thing I realized over the past few weeks is that it is in these long conversations (Kristen, Lee, mom, Jim) where I love to be the most. These people help me process all the information that is going in which helps me put it into something that come out in form of action. This is also the reason I blog, I’m looking for conversation. I’m looking for people who want to interact with me about how I see the world going around so that I can figure out if it is really going around the way I think it is, or if I’m dead wrong. Anyway, more to come as I try to go back and rememb all that Jim and I talked about and the posts that need to come out.