Roving Notes (Pt. I) Tues, 3/19 A Ride and a - TopicsExpress



          

Roving Notes (Pt. I) Tues, 3/19 A Ride and a Welcome Unexpected time with DeAmon this morning - glad he woke me as I slept off a late night of work to ask for a ride to the airport. Jumped up, quick scrubbed off, we hit the road - - I soaked up news of his work with folks in Kentucky who have begun their own Roving LIstening work in several neighborhoods, asking lots of questions to understand how he and his partner Anne have set up the process. And, we talked about Broadway Church and how the learning and work there continues to evolve. One of the unique things about Broadway, we agreed, is how so many people of very different roles, backgrounds and personalities are now practicing ABCD--all in their own unique ways. Im so curious about how they remain nimble and have created this kind of rich soil of diverse, collective practice and of constant evolution. DeAmon recounted a bit of his recent conversation with the pastor Mike Mather, who had asked him what he thought was needed now in their practice. Organizations always have to re-think themselves, because theyre always growing. Its like a pair of pants--youve got to make them bigger to fit you as you grow. I told him news of my potential ABCD Workshop in FL.. and one thing Im always thinking about, which is how to best support folks in the million dollar question of How -- how to put these lovely ideas and stories into practice where we are? Its not so much How, but WHO will do the implementing. No one ever talks about that. Yes! Affirming my own impulses to always emphasize that there are always connectors to be found, supported, invested in and partnered with in any neighborhood and community (including organizations). . ~ * * * ~ . When I got home, I glanced up the street as I normally do to see whos around. No neighbors, I thought--seeing just a man by a white work-truck. As I swung my backpack out of the car, the work-truck man greeted me - Good morning to you! Good morning! How are you doing? Pretty well, how bout yourself? He called back. I answered, Great, thank you! Then headed toward the door. He called out again, Hey is your boyfriend at home? I was confused. My boyfriend?.. Oh! You mean DeAmon! Hes not my boyfriend, hes a friend -- I live here with his family. I walked toward him as I explained this. When I got close enough, he stuck out his hand and announced, Jim Young, its nice to meet you. I explained to Jim, a slim, happy-faced black man probably in his mid-to-late 30s, that I moved here last year in March. Welcome to the neighborhood! He said, smiling. Turns out he is a contractor who is working on the home he plans to move into, hopefully by the end of the month, with his two kids. The house is just one house down from ours, beside the sweet and hardworking Gwendolette and her smart son Benjamin, who loves basketball. How do you like it here? Jim asked. Oh I love it. Great people, very welcoming. He looked at me, taking me in. Thats good youre down to earth. A lot of people arent like that. But yeah, this is a good place -- people act like they got a front, or like theyre hard -- from what they see on the TV and stuff, but theyre all nice people once you get to know them. And sometimes stuff happens, especially in the summer when folks are hangin out -- but hey, bad stuff happens EVERYWHERE. I agreed wholeheartedly. He asked, smiling, How many men tried to holler at you? I laughed too. There have been plenty. And, I explained, Im happy to become friends with them, I explained, But I tell them up front thats all theyre gonna get. Jim told me about the kids down the street who hes gotten to know, who have been looking out for his house while hes not there. And he had a little trouble with Benjamin tossing trash in his yard, but weve gotten over that hump. Hes also friends with Ray, who lives right across from me -- who, I found out, manages an apartment complex. Oh thats what he does! Ive exchanged friendly introductions and regular salutations with Ray, but havent yet had a real conversation. I sensed a freshness and integrity to Jim which, combined with his warm acts of neighboring and connecting -- beyond the norm, like saying welcome to the neighborhood! when hes still just in the moving-in stage -- sparked a great joy and warmth in me. The conversation ended naturally as Jim bent down toward his shovel and the leaves hes collected and wished me a very nice day. You too! Its so nice to meet you. We should all have dinner when you get moved in. He agreed, smiling, as I left him to his work on his soon-to-be home.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 06:25:20 +0000

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