Urban Immersion Reflections 3 of 4
Our heads were already spinning as we experienced the contrast between scenic, peaceful world of rock climbing and camping the night before and the multi-ethnic, cultural phenomenon of UT’s campus. But Friday night our “Urban Immersion” would put us right in the middle of South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival!
But before we hit the streets, we met Kester Smith and his family for dinner. They are planting a church in downtown Austin for those without hope (Immanuel Austin Community). While he is a pastor of a church, he also works for Book People, a huge bookstore that attracts a pretty diverse crowd right off of 6th St. To these people he’s sort of seen as the “token Christian guy” since he’s the only one working there AND is a kindhearted guy who shares his thoughts. Co-workers pick his brain to try to figure this whole Christian thing out - I’m glad he’s God’s ambassador to those people.
As the sun set, we said goodbye to Kester and headed out in pairs onto 6th St, the main hub of SXSW. The only thing that outnumbered the bars were the people traipsing up and down the streets. Katrina and I were together, and for the next several hours our “assignment” (good ole’ Kent, always finding moments for teaching and learning…) was to keep our eyes open to what God wanted to show us, and to try to have some meaningful conversations with people.
Well, Trina and I knew that last bit was going to be difficult the moment we walked into the first bar. The music was so blaringly loud that there was no way we could hold a conversation AT ALL much less delve into the mysteries of the universe.
We walked out the back door of the bar and into a filthy alleyway. The underbelly of 6th St. It was here that we began to see what God wanted to show us. Learning to see with God’s eyes is a little like trying to figure out one of those “Magic Eye” comic strips.
At first all you see is trash and darkness. You want to get out of there as fast as possible. You feel threatened by the darkness. But soon your eyes “adjust” and you begin to remember who you are, and whose you are. Your vision comes to you and you begin to see a couple over in a corner making out, and the man looks like he’s taking advantage of an uncertain woman.
A few drunken rich college-aged students are stumbling around the corner, working hard to forget the pain that they carry around with them. We saw a woman digging through the trash with great focus and intensity, looking for aluminum cans (what for, we don’t know), and shooting harried glances up at passers by.
Our eyes began to see things everywhere that it seemed were at first invisible to us. We began to see the pain, the loneliness, and the abandonment…(and even unrestrained joy) of the entire mob of 6th St. It was unnerving.
Katrina said she was glad to have gone, saying that she would have stuck to a safe, quiet pub somewhere and just people watched. I personally get really energized by entering into unknown situations where I am completely disoriented. I just pay attention more in unfamiliar situations - and therefore pay attention to what God is doing in a bigger way.
I enjoyed my time out on 6th Street, I met some amazing people with incredible stories (or maybe it just sounded more incredible since they were screaming their stories to me over 30′ speakers). SXSW is a community well in many ways, and I believe Jesus Christ focused in on community wells, meeting women (and men) who needed life-giving water. I pray for more “training” from the Lord at community wells in my everyday life, and training in keeping my eyes open.
Last 5 posts by Mark
- Brain Dump - October 8th, 2008
- God is Wholly - October 2nd, 2008