Ideal Conditions

I went to a Church Planters networking meeting in Mississauga yesterday. Jared had emailed me and asked me to come, and so, while I have no idea whether I am to plant a church anytime soon, I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to get out there and meet some of the whack jobs thinking of doing just that. After taking the GO bus from Union Station to Square One in Mississauga, I was hungry, so I swung through the Mall's food court to get a muffin. Amongst others in line at Tim Hortons was a girl with a tiara and veil in her hair. Day of the wedding, and she's going to Timmies for a double-double. We are in Canada, after-all. Probably part of her wedding plans since she was six. Because girls are weird like that. I got my muffin and then left for the Greenhouse where I was greeted by the aforementioned Jared, as well as Nathan who I met at the Mosaic Church Planting Conference in November, and who was out taking photos at empireremixed a few weeks back. It was good to have some familiar facess in the room. There was this huge contingent of Queen's people in the room, probably due to the influence of the Next Church in Kingston. That's the church Jared planted in the late 90s, and that continues to influence generations of Queen's students as well as the local community. It's amazing to watch the ways in which that small community is reaching out in, and influencing the world. It was good to just be in a room full of people thinking and dreaming of new ways to love their communities more, to reach out and give themselves over to seeking the wellbeing of their neighbourhoods. It's amazing to see all of these people with visions, with questions, and to be in their midst. I still have no idea what's next for me. Finishing classess, writing my thesis, and then the great unknown. Whatever the case, I'm sure I'll be taken care of, and find a couple things to keep me occupied in the meantime. Part of the next few years may indeed involve a church plant, but I guess we'll see how that all goes down, how the visions and conversations arise, and if the ideal conditions for such a whacked-out idea present themselves.