Musing on Missional Life in Suburbia

Various things I've been reading recently have played into my thoughts on what it means for us to be moving into a new development for the purpose of living a missional life. First of all, Alan Roxburgh, in his 'Conversations and reflections on the Missional Order' (www.allelon.org/roxburgh July2) calls those who wish to engage in a missional life to "pitch their tent in one place and dwell in it." He talks about the concept of intentionally moving (back) into a neighbourhood for the sake of the people and place, and in that place, living out a missional rule of life. This seems like a relatively simple call to me - we are already in the process of moving into a neighbourhood that by definition will require that we 'pitch our tent' and live there for an extended period of time. And we certainly want to be living out a life of hospitality from this place. But what might the specifics of this "living out" look like?

Several people are currently talking about what it looks like to live in the ordinary - Kath Atkins and John Davies in particular have been filling my imagination with the possibilities of the ordinary.

John Davies, in his article 'Reading the Everyday' says:

"My suggestion is that the Christian project must involve us affirming these ordinary things very deeply, doing our church and our theology and our praying whilst deeply engaging with these basic building blocks of life."

Kath Atkins, in conversation with Allelon, mentioned one of the keys to ministry in the ordinary - the fact that we so frequently miss all of the issues hiding behind the 'nice little facades'. Her comments came just after Trevor and I had been thinking together about the story of Zacchaeus. We were asking the question, 'What does unconditional love look like in suburbia?' Trevor brought up the story of Zacchaeus, a man who on the outside seemed to have all of the material wealth and success that was possible, but was actually living a self-destructive life, and although he might be able to one day give the impression of success, he was never going to achieve true success - it was beyond his ability. And we both know that for many in suburbia, the self-destruction of their lives is hiding just under the surface of an impression of success.

Into this situation steps Jesus, who looks beyond the facade, but interestingly enough doesn't call out the truth. He doesn't stand below the tree and accuse Zacchaeus for leading a duplicitous or sinful life. Instead he answers the unspoken need for love in Zacchaeus' life by inviting himself to Zacchaeus' house, and the results are remarkable! Like so many stories in the gospels, there is a prophetic nature to this story - Jesus doesn't approach just anyone to go to for supper, and when he approaches Zacchaeus up the tree, he calls him by name and immediately knows how to minister to him. Furthermore, the timing is perfect, as Zacchaeus is desperate enough to see Jesus that he's willing to make a fool of himself by climbing a tree to do so.

Which links back to Alan's comments about living out a missional rule of life rooted in our place - because it is out of the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, hospitality, welcoming of the stranger and worship that we prepare ourselves to minister in this way. Ministry in suburbia won't necessarily be obvious - there won't be a bum on the street pan-handling that we can simply take home with us to 'minister to'. And I'm a sucker for the obvious - I like to know that if I follow this set list of tasks, then God will be happy, Trevor will be happy, the children will be happy - basically, I will have gotten it right. But I'm not sure its that simple. I suspect that we will need to get to know well the people in our neighbourhood, pray frequently for them, and live our lives beside them through the ordinariness of everyday life, waiting for the opportunity to minister prophetically to those for whom the timing is right. And accept the fact that it will come at its own time, in its own way, and our job is to be available for it.

This is where I think some of John Davies' suggestions might be valuable - namely that we take time to 'read' a community by talking and listening with neighbours, reading, reflecting, walking and observing - when married with the obvious step of praying along each street of houses, may well have a place.

Aside from that, we've been musing about how we can be incubator's of community in a place that is not only suburbia, but brand-new development - a place where many people will be, like us, brand new not only to the subdivision but to the city as well? Here are my beginning thoughts, please feel free to comment and add yours:

• Put a chair on the front porch. Then sit on it regularly.
• Plant a garden in the front - this will encourage us to tend it regularly, and thereby be out front and available. Choose the best time to go out, based on when others are likely to be there.
• Go for evening walks in the summer - 7:00pm is usually the best time of day.
• Find out when the park will be finished and start using it!
• Organize with the city (if possible) to build a community ice rink on the grass of the park in the winter, and keep using it. Bring around a thermos or three of hot chocolate to share when the kids are playing shinny hockey and cheer them on.
  
• Share food with people.
• Keep a prayer map.
• Bike around garage sales during the summer.

Finally, we must remember that God is already in Barrie -- He's bringing us there to participate in what He is already busy and active in, and we will be foolhardy to approach our new home, our new street, our new subdivision with anything other than a God-inspired humility. It can take years - even decades - for the effects of faithful prayer to be borne out in tangible results. We may never 'see' the results of our life, but it must still be a life lived out in faith. It must still be a life true to that which the Lord our God has called us to. That is, "to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)