A few years ago Ginghamsburg hosted a small guest band with a backup singer who sported some unique wardrobe pieces. I remember complimenting her unusual jewelry and hearing back her simple, sweet response that has stuck with me to this day. “I like to create a stir, she replied.” I’ve been chewing on that uninhibited confession ever since.
Jesus was known to create a stir just about everywhere he went. Even when he didn’t want to attract a lot of attention his deeds and offerings drew crowds toward him. Whether healing a demoniac, feeding a few thousand listeners, hugging over-active children, enjoying extravagant gifts or washing dirty feet, Jesus’ penchant for the unexpected always created a certain holy tension, setting the stage for seekers to experience fresh waves of the Divine. Jesus could cause a stir.
(Our Ginghamsburg lobby display inviting folks to check out this year’s mission trip destinations. Our Mission Specialist Elizabeth Heft and I created this display together with great support from print graphic designer Tracey Obenour.)
As Ginghamsburg’s visual designer my passion is to offer an engaging experiential presence to our greatest initiatives – to tell the story in a visibly striking manner. Whether via stage design, a hallway mural, an event or a lobby display, this involves drawing the community into the initiative at hand – creating environments that cultivate engagement.
(Cheryl Bender (upper left) is Ginghamsburg’s diehard Clubhouse Director. She and I worked on this lobby display together, inviting the men and women of our church family to sign up to commit to pray for individual Clubhouse Kids in the Dayton area over the course of the next year. I’ve commited to praying for Elijah, age 4.)
Even so, I despise the idea of doing anything half hearted – or simply going through the motions of pulling off an event that looks and feels like last year’s party. I want to create a stir with each and every design. “Sing to me a new song.” (Psalm 33:3) “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31) Each day is a new opportunity to do something amazing – simply because I am created in the image of Amazing.
(This weekend we hosted our second-ever Father-Daughter Dance, a huge success if happy girls, proud dads and two hundred sets of dancing feet are any indication. Veda Moyer was a rockstar event organizer and we shared a great team of servants who put this event together.)
What about you? Are you convinced that there’s only one way to do your job, your relationships, your daily tasks? Or is it time to pray bigger prayers of possibilities and shine just a little brighter? What kind of stir will you create today?