Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Change, Oh Change

The past few months have been filled with change: some amazing, some heartbreaking. We'll start with the amazing.

Nick and I bought our first home! One day, we stumbled on a HUD listing for a huge multi-family home in Columbus Park, a historic neighborhood basically in downtown KC. It started us thinking and dreaming. After looking around the neighborhood more, we ended up getting connected with an awesome realtor, Amy Antrim. She walked us through the process, helped us discern our priorities, and made the experience positive. We knew we wanted to be in the urban core in an old home. We looked inside about a dozen houses and I cannot say how many I drove by or looked at online. We ended up in Hyde Park South. Our house is near the Nelson Atkin art museum and not too far from where we lived before our stint downtown. The house is a fantastic 100 year-old, two bedroom bungalow with a full, use-able (dry) basement. The square footage is not much more than the loft, but with the basement we have all the room we need. My office will be down there. The stone walls remind me of old monastery which is good because I have a lot of discerning to do. (That's the next part of this post, though.)Did I mention we have a yard? I thought we should open a bottle of champagne the first time all we had to do was open the door to let the dogs out. We are across the street from a big park too! Those silly bird dogs of ours have plenty room to run and many squirrels to chase!

So far, we've built and upholstered a headboard, painted our bedroom and the bathroom, got the guest bedroom set up and even had one guest! In the bathroom, we replaced the original pedestal sink. Nick is 6'3" and that sink was made for use mainly by children. :) We found a cottage-style vanity and sink combo replacement that looks great! Now we are functional as well as quaint in the bathroom. We have plans to tile the tub surround and one day gut the kitchen. It works just fine, but the cabinets are at least from the 50's and lost their luster many decades ago. Suffice it to say, we are making that to-do list and checking stuff off, becoming the proverbial "weekend warriors."

A couple weekends ago, Amy threw us a housewarming party. On one of the coldest days yet we had over 20 people come check out the new place, eat bbq, and share in our joy! Thanks to Amy for hosting and to everyone who came.

Nick and I learned a great deal in the process of finding a home. First, find a realtor who is awesome. He or she can help you figure out what you want. Second, the stupid financial decisions you've made in the past will come out. (This really didn't apply to Nick, just me.) Be prepared to put your big-girl pants on and deal with it. Third, it really is a chance to get to know your partner better if you are buying with someone else. Nick and I came out stronger and more deeply connected. Finally, if you can help it at all, try not to have other crazy things going on like a car repair fiasco that you could make a short film about. If you haven't heard me rage about it in person, just trust that it was 2 months of bad luck and bad timing.

It's a good thing that we are grounded and strong. The other change that has been coming is the ending (for now) of my efforts to start a church in downtown Kansas City. I spent nearly two years trying to gather a critical mass of people and support for the project called The River. We had a prayer group that met regularly for 9 months. Just before launch, the place where we were going to worship closed unexpectedly. Since that time, the momentum and support fell apart. I take responsibility for that and hope one day reorganize with the full range of support needed to launch something new. The region has been amazingly supportive of the project. However, the congregations who are best able support with "missionaries" have been reluctant at best and dismissive at worst. I am not pointing fingers, but noting a problem with our ability as a denomination to share vision among churches. Sometimes our independence as congregations is a good thing. Sometimes it creates a myopic view of church. The reality is that maybe I am not the one called to this, or called to this planting right now. Whatever the situation may truly be, my heart is cracked but my call to ministry is not frazzled. It is strengthened. I know that I was made to be a minister. We shall see where and how that will be next. God only knows for sure.

In this process, Nick is constantly my biggest advocate and truest confidant. No one could ask for a better partner in life, love and ministry. That basement office with its stone walls will be a place of discernment for now as well as every other place I am. God has use for this pastor and my heart is open to hear what is next. We are ready and praying, o Lord!