Of all the places in the world to: Live, Work, Enjoy Life.
I was reminded of why New Orleans rules today. Sitting in a classroom (as the old guy) the instructor was going over the term, and what to expect from the class. She said it without realizing she was giving away our secret. Today was the first class, in two weeks we are out for Thanksgiving, three weeks after that Christmas. This is only a ten week course. New Years follows Christmas, then Mardi Gras! This is the earliest in a long time (February 5th), and that means parades will roll mid-January. I'll earn those 3 hours the hard way... on a break!
I won't say that ministry in NOLA is ever easy. As a matter of fact it is difficult ground to cultivate. Relationships are hard-won and that makes them meaningful. The air of celebration makes connecting "where people are" the greatest joy in ministry here. While we are uncomfortable at these gates, God gives us comfort in Him. Costly? I could tell you things that would make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Peoples lives don't function around our convenience either. It seems life happens at inopportune moments sometimes. Here is the deal about NOLA: When it is all said and done, these are the people who will applaud a parade. They'll even start their own (2nd Line), and invite you to join them. This gumbo of people makes the pot warm and satisfying. For us it means; No one gets left behind, or forgotten.
Never easy, never comfortable, always inconvenient . Sort of an echo of real life don't you think? What I know is this; God will never leave me no matter what. In that I can rest, and get on with this crazy life in the Big Easy (whoever came up with that name was not a pastor here).
Thanks for crawling around inside my head for awhile.
