Just Show(ing) Up
“People don’t want to be a line item on your checklist. Being an efficient blur may get things done, but it doesn’t build relationships. Rigid plans don’t leave time and space…grace to settle in and reveal, to hold sacred the moment before you. A moment where God in His faithfulness may bless you through an interaction, an encounter with one of His children.”
As I walked out of Shechem, I heard, “the legend”. I glanced around, because I didn’t know the individual or who he could be referring to. As he walked up beside me and joined me on the sidewalk, I realized he was referring to me. To which I responded, “what makes you say that?” He went on to confirm - “you’re the one who came up with the idea of this place aren’t you?”. I awkwardly smiled, and said, “yes, with a team of people”. We continued to walk side by side.
He then went on to say, “that place is saving lives. For me and the guys that show up, we have something else to do. It’s positive. It’s more than just hooping.” My awkward smile turned into a sincere smile, and a deep gratitude that I was getting to hear the impact being made. Unsolicited positive feedback is such a gift to me. I told him I was grateful he found Shechem, and that his experience is what we hoped the space would provide - a safe haven for people to experience something new. I was approaching where I would turn towards my car, and he said, “oh one more thing, it's crazzzzyyy you invested in this space and keep showing up.” I replied, “I always will, I am showing up for my family.” He said, “facts”, and I quickly made my way over to my car before the tears came streaming down my face.
I drove home in silence, and kept replaying the conversation over and over again in my head. The part that continued to strike me the most, was the last part - the impact of our community showing up. “Showing up” has been a tagline I have adopted. It is often what I ask of people, a willingness to show up and be ready to receive what God has for you. Consistency and presence becomes a gift that keeps on giving, both for yourself, and those you are in close proximity to. Yet, this young man’s statement went deeper - it meant something to him that there are people who invest (financially), and just to invest with their presence. This is why this was so baffling:
People rarely invest in our community. You don’t have to look far to see a dilapidated building, run down storefront or any other glaring feature that screams “broken”. The community has been written off, left to fend for itself and in the process “functioned” with bare minimum. In the midst of all of that is a brand new state of the art, architectural award winning, community center named Shechem.
In the rare occasion that someone does invest, it is usually with resources and not presence. It is safer, and for sure easier to write a check and remain disconnected. To “do your part” but not get your hands dirty. Our community rarely gets to see or know the faces of people who choose to invest. Yet, at Hope Street (Homes & Shechem) people who financially invest also find ways to show up and be present - and that impact is profound. Our members get to bump shoulders with people who believe in them, people who want to know and be known by them. What a gift.
I didn’t know Curtis before this interaction, and he only knew of me - yet, in that moment we got a glimpse of each other’s hearts. His heart is full of gratitude, for a space that has become a safe haven for himself and his friends. Mine, a reminder that the faithful work produces fruit - we don’t always get to see or hear - but when we do, we are reminded of the good story He has written. He continues to fold us in. So show up.
You can read the chapter "Just Show(ing) Up" in Well Moments, which is available here.
You can also catch Kendall and I on our weekly podcast, to tune into the reflection on this chapter, click here.
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