…err of Silence….

Does anyone remember the great spy spoof sitcom “Get Smart” from the 60′s? Now, I’m not that old, but I do remember watching re-runs on Channel 41 as a kid and laughing my butt off at the dry, satirical humor. Anyway, Maxwell Smart and The Chief would often get under “The Cone of Silence” when they needed to talk about something private and confidential.

I experienced that this past weekend. It’s all about community, transparency and vulnerability. Let me explain…

This past Memorial Day weekend, seven of my buddies from my Impact Group at Jacobs Well went down to Table Rock Lake to stay at The Adult Guest Lodge that is on Young Life’s Clearwater Cove property. Even though we got out of town late on Friday night and it rained virtually all day long on Saturday (not too much fun at the lake to have it raining), it was a weekend that none of us will forget for a long time. The Lodge was amazing, with an incredible view of the lake. The food was great with Dr. Naked Chef himself Peder Horner at the grill officiating. (Peder was not naked, just to set the record straight) No cell phones (even my crappy Nextel didn’t work!), e-mail, work, distractions, etc. Incredible, stimulating conversation about life, our relationships with Christ, our families, our friends, our church, our Impact Groups. We laughed a lot, even cried some. But you know, that is the true “impact” of living life in community TOGETHER as we’ve been talking about at church lately. I’m consistently amazed at how God has blessed our larger community (our congregation) as well as our smaller communities (Impact Groups).

I can honestly say that these men, along with the other men who couldn’t be there because of work or family conflicts, as well as the incredible women in our Impact Group, will be a part of my life forever. We have shared some true “God knitting” of our lives together since last September when our group as we know it was formed.

Titans, I’m grateful for you. Jacobs Well, I’m grateful for you.

Until next time, ~j