My "great object"

William Wilberforce had two great objects, the reformation of manners and the abolition of the slave trade. Here is an attempt at formalizing mine...

I'm going to write this down because in writing about something, and having others read it, I am held to a higher level of accountability than if I just keep it to myself. I've kept this mostly to myself for a while, and shared bits and pieces to various people and on this blog even, but it's good for me to articulate it in this form. This dream, this vision, is something I need to be held accountable for, and something people need to ask me if i'm working towards. It is a summation of where I feel gifted, called, and most passionate. It's also something that I want people to partner with me in-I cannot do it alone...

Often, i'm surprised by the people who tell me they read my blog and are encouraged by the thoughts posted. I'm encouraged to hear that, but have to go back to admitting as I did recently that its all "art as process." Pen on page is, for me, relationship. A relationship with my creator that flows into words, somehow someway. A relationship that extends to those who read, and flows into their hearts and minds. Once we read someone's writing, we begin to know them. We know how they work, what they love, and often what irks them. For me writing, and blogging, is a process of knowing and being known. Not only by the reader, but by the creator. It is a "process" of working out my relationship with God and inextricably tied with the core of who I am most deeply. That's saying a lot, I know. But I say it only to preface that what I share now is near and dear to my heart. I share it with freedom, because I am already known, already loved. And regardless of what you think about it, its a glimpse into something eternal, a process in myself that I choose to share with you because being real and being vulnerable is worth it.

Vision encapsulated: Making cities places that foster the good, true and beautiful by infusing the creative economy with spaces and ideas. Acting as a catalyst for community-growing, nourishing, and enriching creativity. Envisioning and enabling a better sense of place that reflects the city to come and remembers the beauty of what God created.

Vision revised: Building community by creating gathering places that facilitate meaningful conversation. (this is the one sentence version)

This past spring I started trying to have a weekly time known as a "futuristic brainstorming session." It was basically meant as a time for me to sit down, write, and let my creative juices flow. Usually books with lots of pictures or cool designs facilitate this process for me. When looking for jobs, I did this pretty often. I would sit down and "dream up" what I could do in a given field or for a given employer. I went into four or five job interviews with this kind of preparation, rather than the typical "what are your strengths and weaknesses" reviews. I did this because, to know what my unique giftings and passions are, and how they can relate to an employer, communicates volumes beyond what simple "most difficult situation with a co-worker" questions convey. It was also really important for me to have a sense, walking into an interview, of what I could bring to the table. If an employer wasn't willing to recognize and capitalize on those things that I had to offer, then I wasn't interested in working for them. And yes, i'm not kidding.

What does all of this mean? At this point, i'm not quite sure. It's a glimpse into a reality that will work itself out over the course of time, and (i'm learning) that it's not up to me to force it. Only in surrendering myself will I truly find myself, and even see these dreams come to some sort of fruition. Right now, i'm excited to be a part of the process.