Burning Vapor

Showcasing Macon’s Creativity

I sat outside of the 567 tonight watching street lights flicker on the backdrop of a Georgia rainstorm.  It was a nice night in GA with a slight breeze moving the humidity along.  Throughout my life I have often asked God – ‘Why have you brought me here?  What is it that you want me to learn?’  Over the years I have realized that I am in the place that I am in today because it prepares me for tomorrow.  I should enjoy the moment, but I should also remember that He is preparing me for what is to come. As I look back on my life I can see many times, people, and places that God has used to prepare me for today and I know today was used to prepare me for tomorrow.  It’s an incredible cycle really, and it has always pointed me to God’s sovereign plans and my daily dependence to walk in those plans.  Tonight I was able to enjoy God’s sovereign planning in Gospel conversations and I look forward to how He is using them.

Tonight I met a magazine reporter doing a write-up on local music venues and she wanted to ask me questions about the 567. ” How did it get started?  Why do you do it?”  I was completely unprepared and stumbled my way through an interview that I wasn’t planning on having all the while she is busily taking notes.  While I’m talking I keep thinking, “Uh, God, seriously?  Shouldn’t Keith or Cameron or Hannah or someone else be having this conversation? “WHY ME?”

And then I met a Rutland High School art teacher that wants to join forces with City Watch in creating a space for graffiti artists to display their works downtown – and she knows other art teachers that want to get involved.  She loves what we are doing and wants to offer her time and talent in renewing Macon through the arts, fighting crime and empowering kids.

And then I met the mother of one of the band members who must be in her 80′s and she wanted to thank ME for all the work I’M doing downtown.  I tried to tell her that I didn’t start any of this and tried to get out an explanation about who she should be thanking but she just ‘shooshed’ me and said ‘you are here now’.

And then I sat on one of the benches next to a couple of my homeless friends and listened to them swear that next month everything was going to change and they were going to get an apartment and I wasn’t going to see them on the streets anymore.  I listened to him pledging and committing to get an apartment all the while knowing that they have been in this same position many times before and it always fails.  Always.  The call back to the bottle or crack pipe is too much and even if they were able to get into a place for a short time…I’ll probably see them right back out here.  I didn’t know what to say.  I could hear the desperate genuineness coming through  his liquor slurred words and blood shot eyes, so I offered them encouragement and affirmed what a great place that would be.  The lady was even excited about watching cartoons and westerns again and it seemed like that was the thing that she was looking forward to.  All the while they are holding open containers of beer under their shirts.

Normally I see the 567 as a place where we ‘Showcase Macon’s Creativity’ through art and music.  But tonight was different.  Tonight I saw Macon’s Creativity in it’s people and I’m excited to see where God is taking us.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 21st, 2009 at 10:50 pm and is filed under Gospel, New City. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.