This is really about prayer…as this important aspect of creating the worship space at Journey is where I struggle and wrestle with God the most. I usually have a way I want things to go and God does not always agree with my wants. This is upsetting, by the way. It’s basically me asking God to show me what it looks like and me fighting every thought and vision given to me.

One of my close friends was helping me with worship setup a couple weeks back…and I had asked her if she would work on this one element of the worship space that needed attention. She said “yes” (first step) so I gave her the details around what we were doing and how this and that represent God flowing in us and out of us and into the world and left her with full creative control as to what it looked like and then said “go for it!” Well, she said “okay”...but then her face changed…her lips pushed out…eye brows dropped…the motor was running...and off she went. Now, I was excited to see what she came up with because she is so in tune with God and Journey and the theme and the flow…I mean, she just gets it. Anyway, some time goes by and I notice she still has that deep thought look on her face and now her hands are in her hair and I can tell she’s really getting tired. I suggest she get out of her head and feel into it and let God show it. She gave me a look…a look I often see after I say something stupid. She moves away and toward the back of the warehouse as I yell “Just look for something…God will show it to you!” I didn’t actually see it, but I’m pretty sure she flipped me off. So, I continue doing my thing and time goes by and I’m in the groove and suddenly, I jump and almost fall off the ladder as she screams “IT’S THE $&#@ING CHAIR! I DON’T KNOW WHY, BUT IT’S THE $&@#ING CHAIR!” Now, this made me laugh…because this is exactly how it goes time and time again when I struggle and struggle and finally give up and God shows me this thing and it’s stupid and not what I was looking for but I know it’s what I’m supposed to do and now I’m seeing it happen to her and she had the same response I usually have which is to cuss and laugh…and sometimes, cry.

The chair is not the story…it’s just an old wooden chair. The story is around the struggle between the creative and the creator. It’s about my friend getting out of her head long enough to allow something magical to happen…then knowing and trusting that “it” is good and with purpose and power, even if it’s just a stupid old wooden chair. The struggle is in refusing what is already ours…this thing we cannot see or touch or smell that is our creativity. My want is for everyone to explore and struggle and learn and nurture their creative energy. The struggle will happen, no matter what…don’t fight it…and don’t flip me off...unless necessary.