Intense week this week. The official name is called Father Heart of God, but that's just the general theme. It took an entire week of lectures to unpack a little bit about what that means, so I'm not going to try to do so here.
What I will let you know is that I had some cool times. I was managing the comings and going of this week making sure everyone knew what was happening from day to day, arranging for this to happen and that to happen. Sorry, I should say I was responsible for making sure someone was doing that stuff, I didn't have to do it all myself, nor did I do it alone.
Amongst all of the organizing the content of the lectures was really speaking to my heart. So not only was I being emotionally, spiritually and intellectually stirred up, but I also had to be able to coordinate people and help others to process themselves. Fun, well challenging is more accurate but I do enjoy a good challenge.
So, Matt, you got a lot out of this past week personally? Aren't you in Davos to help equip others?
Yes, and yes. And here's where my being open and broken in front of those I am leading has been a blessing. One of the first feed back and pieces of encouragement that came to me from a student of the current DTS has been thanking me for being a leader who is willing to be open and broken. Often leaders are viewed as people who have things together, well I don't. I have some experiences that help me, but I don't have it all together and apparently living that out is helping me to lead. Never would have thought of that on my own.
Well, I've written a short story about my experiences this week and posted each chapter. Enjoy...
Monday, November 15, 2010
Tale of Two Walls
Chapter 3
Filled with contempt I gazed up at the wall, studying it, searching it. I wanted to know everything about it so that I would make sure not to place it in my own wall. The small clefts where the birds could make their nests, The Wall cared for it's inhabitants, but it never cared for me. The rough places that could be climbed by people looking for fun had hurt my hands. The shade that animals took refuge in blocked out the light of the sun. I wanted none of those.
'I know' I thought, 'I will have this wall torn down, and then no one will be able to liken The Wall to mine. But when I asked the authority to tear it down He said
“Why? Why should I destroy The Wall that has sheltered you from the heat of the sun, that has brought you food and provided for your needs? The Wall has even taught you, challenged you and inspired you to build your own wall. This is a good wall, you do not have to like everything about this wall, but choose what you like and leave the rest.“
'I never thought of that.' I recoil as a new revelation of what The Wall means hits me. With these new idea running laps through my head I turn around and my gaze falls upon one like a Son of Man who appears transfixed with something up in the sky. Following his gaze I see only The Wall, but I know that is not what He is looking at. What He sees is above The Wall, but I have not seen it because I have been to busy looking at the wall.
Curious to know what it is, I begin walking towards the Man for a better view. It is only when I reach Him that I see that the ground he is standing on is perfect ground for building my own wall. Not only that, but from here The Wall that I hated doesn't seem so bad. In fact there are some things that I like about it, somethings that I want to use from it and incorporate into my own wall. This time, I won't be tearing anything down, I will only build upa wall that will draw people so that from my wall, they can see the beautiful sight that the Man is staring at.
Filled with contempt I gazed up at the wall, studying it, searching it. I wanted to know everything about it so that I would make sure not to place it in my own wall. The small clefts where the birds could make their nests, The Wall cared for it's inhabitants, but it never cared for me. The rough places that could be climbed by people looking for fun had hurt my hands. The shade that animals took refuge in blocked out the light of the sun. I wanted none of those.
'I know' I thought, 'I will have this wall torn down, and then no one will be able to liken The Wall to mine. But when I asked the authority to tear it down He said
“Why? Why should I destroy The Wall that has sheltered you from the heat of the sun, that has brought you food and provided for your needs? The Wall has even taught you, challenged you and inspired you to build your own wall. This is a good wall, you do not have to like everything about this wall, but choose what you like and leave the rest.“
'I never thought of that.' I recoil as a new revelation of what The Wall means hits me. With these new idea running laps through my head I turn around and my gaze falls upon one like a Son of Man who appears transfixed with something up in the sky. Following his gaze I see only The Wall, but I know that is not what He is looking at. What He sees is above The Wall, but I have not seen it because I have been to busy looking at the wall.
Curious to know what it is, I begin walking towards the Man for a better view. It is only when I reach Him that I see that the ground he is standing on is perfect ground for building my own wall. Not only that, but from here The Wall that I hated doesn't seem so bad. In fact there are some things that I like about it, somethings that I want to use from it and incorporate into my own wall. This time, I won't be tearing anything down, I will only build upa wall that will draw people so that from my wall, they can see the beautiful sight that the Man is staring at.
Tale of Two Walls
Chapter 2
One day I began to build my new wall. As I was building some people walked by and said “What a nice wall, it looks very much like The Wall over there.“
In a furious rage I tore down the beginning of my wall. The ferocity with which I went about taking the wall to pieces scared the passers by and they ran from my prescience.
Again and again this would happen. Sometimes I would only just be starting, and other times my new wall was well on it's way, but each time it was liken to The Wall I would destroy it and start again.
One day I began to build my new wall. As I was building some people walked by and said “What a nice wall, it looks very much like The Wall over there.“
In a furious rage I tore down the beginning of my wall. The ferocity with which I went about taking the wall to pieces scared the passers by and they ran from my prescience.
Again and again this would happen. Sometimes I would only just be starting, and other times my new wall was well on it's way, but each time it was liken to The Wall I would destroy it and start again.
Tale of Two Walls
Chapter 1
I am as I have been for ages past, gazing up upon The Wall. As a tower it rises up and up higher and higher. Forever have I dwelt in the shadow of this wall. I have looked up at it, thought about it, climbed upon it and studied it.
I hate The Wall.
Though it has always been there protecting me from the the whether, the storms as they pass, cast shade for me in the hot, hot heat, lured in food and provision for me, drawn travelers to keep me company and taken care of me, I hate The Wall.
Someday, I will build a wall. It will be a wonderful wall, a magnificent wall, a spectacular wall. People will travel from all around to see the wall that I have built. My wall will be nothing like The Wall. My wall will be smooth where is should be and stick out at an angle just where it aught to. There will me room on my wall for every one to take shelter in the storm, or find food for themselves to eat, and enjoyment in how it is formed.
When those who come to see my wall look and see The Wall in the distance they will say, “My, what a sad looking wall that is. I am glad that this new wall is nothing like that Wall.“
I am as I have been for ages past, gazing up upon The Wall. As a tower it rises up and up higher and higher. Forever have I dwelt in the shadow of this wall. I have looked up at it, thought about it, climbed upon it and studied it.
I hate The Wall.
Though it has always been there protecting me from the the whether, the storms as they pass, cast shade for me in the hot, hot heat, lured in food and provision for me, drawn travelers to keep me company and taken care of me, I hate The Wall.
Someday, I will build a wall. It will be a wonderful wall, a magnificent wall, a spectacular wall. People will travel from all around to see the wall that I have built. My wall will be nothing like The Wall. My wall will be smooth where is should be and stick out at an angle just where it aught to. There will me room on my wall for every one to take shelter in the storm, or find food for themselves to eat, and enjoyment in how it is formed.
When those who come to see my wall look and see The Wall in the distance they will say, “My, what a sad looking wall that is. I am glad that this new wall is nothing like that Wall.“
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Best Foot Forward
WOW! It's only been like two and a half weeks since I arrived in Switzerland, but everything that we've gotten done it might as well have been a month. The country even welcomed me with a nice snowfall for the fist week, which has since all but melted now...but it was there.
By now I am over the jet lag, the students have arrived, and the 10/11 school for snowboarders has begun. I am really excited for what this season has in store for me. I have taken on some different responsibilities and this time around will be overseeing the hospitality here on base.
Hey Matt, what does that mean? Hospitality stuff?
Well I'll be welcoming guests to the base, making sure that their rooms are clean and ready for them, that our speakers have the resources that they need to teach in the mornings, which could be something as simple as a cup of coffee, or perhaps it's copying some handouts. It's not something that comes naturally to me, but that just means I'm going to be putting a lot of effort into it to make sure that it's done well. Perhaps I'll let you know how good I get at it by the end, and perhaps you'll even get to experience it, but no promises.
This weekend, before most of the students arrived, I was given a chance to take some Matt time and I did just that, on top of a mountain. Of course the only adventurous way to get there is to hike up it, and who needs a trail when there's an incredibly steep slope to scale? not I. Up I went and it was stellar, complete view of the valley of Davos, snow, slippery, windy, bight blue sky, but no camera with which to take pictures so I'll try to use words...
I approached the small plateau covered in a small but dense layer of snow along a path marked out by a single set of footprints in the white frozen water, only the largest rocks were visible beneath their cold blanket. From the plateau I could finally see the summit with it's pile of stones brought up from the bottom by all those who'd conquered the mountain before me. Several times on the hike I thought I'd reached the top only to have another ridge ride up in front of me. This time however was different, the feeling of accomplishment was rising up from my feet spreading through my body. I still had to be careful, I'd not arrived yet and the uncertain and slippery footing was worthy of my attention. Despite the footprints continuing all the way to the peak I decided to strike out on my own adventure of finding my way through the snow.
Behind me stretching out into the valley sat the city of Davos quietly awaiting the winter's arrival. From this vantage point I removed my shoes for the ground belongs to God, and soaked in all that He had for me.
Alas the cold grabbed a hold of me and I donned my shoes and prepared to descend down an unknown path along the backside of the hill. Another height reached, another sight seen.
Matt Clarke
Go Big or Go Home!
By now I am over the jet lag, the students have arrived, and the 10/11 school for snowboarders has begun. I am really excited for what this season has in store for me. I have taken on some different responsibilities and this time around will be overseeing the hospitality here on base.
Hey Matt, what does that mean? Hospitality stuff?
Well I'll be welcoming guests to the base, making sure that their rooms are clean and ready for them, that our speakers have the resources that they need to teach in the mornings, which could be something as simple as a cup of coffee, or perhaps it's copying some handouts. It's not something that comes naturally to me, but that just means I'm going to be putting a lot of effort into it to make sure that it's done well. Perhaps I'll let you know how good I get at it by the end, and perhaps you'll even get to experience it, but no promises.
This weekend, before most of the students arrived, I was given a chance to take some Matt time and I did just that, on top of a mountain. Of course the only adventurous way to get there is to hike up it, and who needs a trail when there's an incredibly steep slope to scale? not I. Up I went and it was stellar, complete view of the valley of Davos, snow, slippery, windy, bight blue sky, but no camera with which to take pictures so I'll try to use words...
I approached the small plateau covered in a small but dense layer of snow along a path marked out by a single set of footprints in the white frozen water, only the largest rocks were visible beneath their cold blanket. From the plateau I could finally see the summit with it's pile of stones brought up from the bottom by all those who'd conquered the mountain before me. Several times on the hike I thought I'd reached the top only to have another ridge ride up in front of me. This time however was different, the feeling of accomplishment was rising up from my feet spreading through my body. I still had to be careful, I'd not arrived yet and the uncertain and slippery footing was worthy of my attention. Despite the footprints continuing all the way to the peak I decided to strike out on my own adventure of finding my way through the snow.
Behind me stretching out into the valley sat the city of Davos quietly awaiting the winter's arrival. From this vantage point I removed my shoes for the ground belongs to God, and soaked in all that He had for me.
Alas the cold grabbed a hold of me and I donned my shoes and prepared to descend down an unknown path along the backside of the hill. Another height reached, another sight seen.
Matt Clarke
Go Big or Go Home!
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