A Visit from Our Congressman and Thinking Small

We got a call from our congressman's office this week.   He asked if he could drop in and visit our Community Center.   The answer?  "Ahhhh, yes!!!" 

So, Mark Beeson, Dan Blacketor, and I will get the privilege of hanging out with Congressman Joe Donnelly for an hour tomorrow.  We'll share our vision, let him see the work and tell stories.  I'm very grateful to have a Congressman that wants to get down to the grass roots level and see the work first hand.   This is not a PR deal - no press - no crowds.  Seeing that kind of genuine interest and curiosity in my congressman goes a long way for an average citizen like me.  God is doing something unique and I think it will inspire him. 

(By the way, I'm grateful beyond words to have a Senior Pastor who is as committed to bringing up there down here as I am.  I'm so glad Mark will be there tomorrow.)

By the way again, I think we need more politicians who aren't just looking for "Big Solutions" for issues like poverty, education, and unemployment.  It turns out that a good way to address these big problems is by thinking small. We need more interest in the "little solutions" that start at the grassroots level, building on contexualized knowledge and local ownership. 

Conventional Wisdom:  A Big Problem Requires a Big Solution

Kingdom Thinking: A Big problem requires a small solution and another small solution and another and another and another...

Over and over again, Jesus brings us back to the beauty of small interventions: a towel and basin, a cup of cold water, a few fish and a few loaves, a little lump of yeast, the smallest seed....you get the idea.  This fascinates me.  It implies that little things do have tremendous value.  When these small changes are implemented intelligently and strategically, these little choices when applied to our lives and our world, collectively result in big changes.

Both in India and Monroe Circle, we're learning the best solutions will be found from the bottom up. 

Comments

[Jim Henry]

I think you hit on the key to being hope in the community. Each one of us represent a "small solution" to the big problems our communities are facing. In Gods hands, a lot of "small solutions" can equal something amazingly BIG!

Thanks Rob!

[Kathy Guy]

This is a really helpful insight Rob. I talk often about small changes, subtle ones in behavior, that have big impacts in relationships. I know it works, but I didn't have the Jesus connection - examples of the small interventions. I was asking people to trust me that these changes would help; it will be much wiser to ask them to trust Jesus. Duh. Thanks so much!

[Aaron DeWinter]

That is such great news! I agree with the politics grass roots level comment. As we work closely with politicians it has been eye opening and educational to see the differences between some. Mr. Donnelly is a good guy. People like him, Penn Township Trustee Jeff Dean and Mayor Rea are the real deal, caring about real issues that people are struggling through. In fact Mr. Donnelly is the keynote speaker at the awards breakfast Monday at Century Center. Anyway, good news to hear and good to see what a difference MC3 is making for many.

[Dan Kyles]

Yeh, you're right! (about the solution being from the bottom up) It ties in with what you were saying about India... Thanks Rob, your post really made me think about how we look for solutions to problems :)
That thought might even help me at work today!

[J Aquila]

I'm glad to see Joe following through with his commitments. I did not vote for him, but am gaining a new respect for politicians like him, who are not just jetting off to Washington, but are actually doing the grunt work here.