A month ago we went back to the garden. But we didn’t start there.
Hope Street’s 25th Anniversary celebration was unlike anything we have done before. It’s taken me a whole month to process what we pulled off. An interactive experience that walked people through our story, but all in relation to the greatest story ever told, His.
His story begins in Genesis, in a beautiful garden named Eden. We began in a room that acknowledged the state of our heart, both individually and collectively. We heard its rhythmic beat, and in the “thump thump” the desire to thrive bumped up against the tension we experience each day - the reality of living in a broken world. We were silent, and still - standing in awe of the beautiful art piece that gave us space to pause and reflect.
From there we felt the weight of our city’s reality. Not the whole story, but the broken, not yet what it ought to be part. The broken garden was messy and full of broken unusable items. The backdrop, a city scape that hid in the shadows of a news reel that displayed the horrific statistics and scenes that ravage our communities. The sound in the room was loud and chaotic. Gun shots, sirens, yelling…noise that becomes all too familiar if you stay long enough. Yet, our hope has always been to disrupt that norm, to push back darkness and allow peace to reside. This space was meant to be uncomfortable. Too often we rush past this part, and do what we can to avoid it. Well the reality is some people can’t avoid it, and so if we don’t pause long enough to allow it to break our hearts, things will never change. As people left this space, they were encouraged to grab a broken element and carry it with them.
From there light started to trickle in. Hope began to be a feeling both physically felt, and tangibly seen. Local artists created paintings that depicted their Hope for Milwaukee. Words won’t do them justice, but the diverse and thoughtful display shared the heart of His people and the desire for things to be restored. Complementing pieces were beautiful floral arrangements designed by Blooming Grace Design in an effort to show that beauty does in fact come from the ashes.
There was a tactile garden, meant to share the elements it takes to put a garden back together. Each element essential, and each step in the process necessary for growth and flourishing to take place.
A greenhouse welcomed people into the Greenhouse for People. You stepped into an apartment at Homes, and felt at home. From there you were welcomed into our community center, Shechem. These spaces reflecting the heart of what we do.
We (Hope Street) know we aren’t the only ones doing their part to bring Hope into our great city, the next space acknowledged some of the organizations we have an honor to know and partner with.
Have you ever come out of a season of hopefulness and found your faith to be tested? What about the season where you’re seemingly in between, wandering and wondering when the next thing will come to fruition? We embraced this part of the story by creating the Land Between.
At Hope Street we speak often about returning authority. We know that each individual has full agency over their choices and decisions and therefore reaps the rewards and consequences of those along the way. The Land Between presented a choice - there were two paths you could take. It was unclear at this point where it would take you, or which “journey” would be best.
One side was short, and there wasn’t much opposition. The other side was long, full of trials and tribulations, a space to write what breaks your heart, and a room that carried the weight of life without God - the void, nothingness. Yet, it didn’t stop there - light became visible and people came out of the land between to our beautiful hand crafted mosaic piece.
This mosaic depicted the gospel story, and intentionally left spaces undone. This was the moment where the broken piece individuals were encouraged to carry with them, were placed on the mosaic. This process representing that God wastes nothing, He uses our broken pieces to make something beautiful, and even more profound - we are not alone, we are a part of a community of people who are connected to The Vine. This mosaic ushered people into a beautiful restored garden, a restored Eden - holding the promise of what will be.
These are just my words, the only ones I’ve been able to articulate to begin to capture the immersive experience. It wasn’t just a beautiful display, it was an opportunity for people to know His story, and His place for each of us in it. My prayer then, and since that day, has been that people would remember.
Remember how loved you are. Remember the brokenness doesn’t have the final say. Remember that in the waiting, He is still working. Working to restore, redeem, heal, set free…nothing is wasted. This story encapsulates all that we “do” at Hope Street, and the beauty is we are really just joining Him in His process. We don’t have to make up anything new - we just have to trust His faithfulness and presence in and through people’s lives. Restoration is coming, we have a Hope worth living for.
This was just the beginning of the evening. The program completed the story, and the next blog will do the same. Until then, may the God of Hope bring you peace as you trust in His provision to restore all things as He ushers in the new Eden.
“Take me back to the garden,
Take me back and walk with me.
For your presence I am longing.
Take me back, God take me back.
Back to your kingdom, come.
Take me back, back to your kingdom, come.
I was born to be royal.
I was made to be free.”
Back to the Garden, David Crowder
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