Watching People

I’ll admit to a vivid imagination. It keeps me entertained, humors my friends, endears me to many and is the cause of sporadic troubles.

I enjoy “People Watching”*… you know, sitting on a park bench, in a mall or at a sidewalk café watching a parade of God’s glorious and funky creatures…  kinda like bird watching except with people. 

So, I board my flight from LAX to DC on my way to Zurich early (to get “situated” into my assigned seat stow my carry-on stuff; arrange my water bottle, head phones, iPod, journal with a 0.5 mechanical pencil in the seat sleeve; get my gum out and pray that God has sovereignly kept the seat next to me vacant).  Sitting on the aisle in the forward compartment of the plane I view everyone pass by to their seats. As I often do, I wonder/imagine what each person’s story is.  So much is seen in our countenance, our body language, eyes, and the posture of our soul.

I wonder what each traveler is leaving behind or headed to… what hints/clues to their story does their furrowed or furry brow tell? I note the wide range of smiles, styles, scowls, hairdo’s and don’ts, smirks and body shapes; their ”look”,   accessories, their gait, weight, demeanor…  it’s a virtual circus of lions and mice, glorious and broken… unfinished men posing and hiding; woman both beautiful and abused.  Each one with a story and a wound… sometimes hidden, sometimes worn on our “sleeve”.  We are a varied, odd, complex and beautiful species. 

So we’re wheels up and on our way.

Is it just me or have you noticed the phenomenal of people changing over the course of a long international flight? Somewhere over the ocean we cross some portal… some seam,  a contour, a line where something significant changes… it’s not the International Date Line, but some kind of a personality/character-time dilation-warp-speedo-change-eroonie thingamajig were people are transformed rather quickly.  The 300 or so passengers leaving DC were by far your typical looking Americans.  The gal across the aisle from me was a house wife from Winnemucca off to visit an old college friend living in Switzerland, the guy next to me … a loud businessman from Maryland intending to seal a deal in Geneva.  At some point during my sleep aided nap we crossed that line and everything was different. The economy section was now the Hofbrauhaus, Munchen. It seems the whole plane was speaking German. They’d all morphed. The gal now looks like an alpine farm girl with a handkerchief pattern dress, braided hair and a hearty Béarnaise accent. Mr. Businessman now looks like an old world silver haired clock maker in a frazzled wool vest and wire rim glasses. It’s amazing. I was surprised no one was yodeling.

I arrive in Zurich and spend the next nine days teaming with our Swiss allies in the adventure of launching the first Swiss German Boot Camp. It was fascinating, astonishing… wonderful, and life changing. A number of times I simply cried with the joy of witnessing the birth of something dangerous, wild and good in Europe.

For over two years Ruedi, Peter, Hansjakob, Andrian and Gerd had been following God, investing blood, sweat and tears**  in pursuit of the desire to awaken the hearts of Swiss and German men. Man did they! God came big time. I was so very proud of these men. They’re knuckleheads just like our team: a businessman, physical therapist, a teacher, chemist and a retired professor… and each living in a story far larger than they could have imagined a few years ago. Just like our team.

God calls each of us to be someone we’ve never been… it’s who we truly are.

 God calls each of us to do something we’ve never done… it’s usually the very thing we’ve always wanted to do but never believed we could. It’s what we were made to do. Until we do it, it’s all talk… dreams, hopes… potential… “Woulda shoulda could’ves”.

There comes a time when you gotta get up and get out on the dance floor.

And as we leave the comfort of the chair, the security of the wide well traveled path for the unique path God has for us we’re changed. It’s some kind of a personality/character- God-authored-transformational-speedo-change-eroonie thingamajig. It’s God. Following Him we’re changed… dramatically at times.

When I left Switzerland nine days later these men were different men. They’d been on the dance floor. They’d pursued their dream. They had a new look; countenance, an affirmed strength, a validated gifting, a tested and found true heart. Spring had come for them and they were full bloom.  This wasn’t my fanciful imagination.  Our Swiss friends became kings of a new domain, leaders in the Large Story of what God is doing in Europe. It’s was amazing. I heard angels yodeling.

– Craig McConnell

 

*Urban Dictionary definition of “People Watching”:
1.People watching is when u go around and watch people that u've never met before and, based on their actions, movements, and gestures, guess what kind of people they are and what they do.2.When people with no lives or losers who go out to watch people because they nothing better to do.

** They came to several of our Colorado Boot Camps, the Advanced Camp and flew out for a weekend given to conversation, prayer and developing our relationship. In our interactions, prayers and discussions there was a strong sense that God was orchestrating our relationship and this mission.

Comments

[David Felts]

Great story Craig...I've needed to hear from your heart desperately the last few days....and you did not disappoint. Thanks man, I'm so glad that your trip went well, and I was encouraged to keep on with the men in my sphere of influence and reach out for that larger story...it's coming...I can see it....strength and honor....

[Craig McConnell]

Thanks David. It was quite an experience. I'd love to change as much, as quickly as those guys did.

[Evelyn Noweder]

What a terrific story. I really enjoyed it, and praise God for what He's doing through so many around the world.

[Jill Dyer]

I was impacted by how this has changed YOU, Craig. One of my favorite things about your writing is hearing you talk about something you've experienced...How the transformation power of God is real in your day to day life. And...you HAVE changed as much as the men you impacted overseas. We all get to experience the life of that as you write, teach, and live. Maybe I can't comment on the fast part but the change is evident. :-)

"And as we leave the comfort of the chair, the security of the wide well traveled path for the unique path God has for us we’re changed. It’s some kind of a personality/character- God-authored-transformational-speedo-change-eroonie thingamajig. It’s God. Following Him we’re changed… dramatically at times."

I love that. The humor and the glory of it. I want that. Bring it, Jesus.

Thanks, Craig.

[Darren]

Ditto what Jill said. Your stories truly are encouraging.

I can't wait to experience Europe again and boot camp. Maybe in the same place, if there are more of these the next few years in Switzerland

I pray that all of us can experience this kind of encouragement in the near future

[mark]

Craig, It's awesome to read your experiences with the Suisse Allies!

I had the opportunity to spend some time in Switzerland(Neuchatel, Sion and Geneve) about 15 years ago. I was actually studying in Germany at the time and was able to travel for 4 weeks.

As a 'Boot Camp' alumni(Crooked Creek '03) and a lover of the country of Switzerland, my heart filled up as I read your experiences. Perhaps a Swiss-German Boot Camp should be placed on by 'bucket list.'

I appreciate your words and your heart!

mark

[Craig McConnell]

Evelyn... Amen! I just finished reading a friends report on Boot Camps and Captivating unfolding in marvelous ways in Albania. Something is stirring... it's much larger than Ransomed Heart but we're a part of it. Fan the flames Sovereign Lord, fan the flames. - Craig

[Adrian Nagel]

Craig
As one of the Swiss allies I can tell you that things FEEL quite different... Did things change? Yes, they did - we still see it, hear reports that make me cry, because it is so beautiful. Did we change? Did I change? Now, after two weeks (or was it three?) I vaguely recall that there was a transgression of a line for me, new land, entering new territory, but it seems somewhat untrue, foggy. Reading your words makes the mist clear, makes me remember, flashes a big stagelight upon the thief, who wants to steal... Thanks buddy, I love you and what you have got to offer!
Adrian

[Craig McConnell]

"It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger for them" - George Eliot

While knowing peace, contentment and rest the heart alive hungers and thirsts for more, forever. God has bestowed so many wonderful things upon me, and still I yearn. - Craig

[Craig McConnell]

Adrian,
We MUST remember. Forgetfulness/Spiritual amnesia is so common we underestimate its debilitating affect. Thus God is hounding us to “remember” throughout scripture.

Remembering may be the most neglected weapon in spiritual warfare.

“For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” – Revelation 12:1—11

Remembering our testimony… who God is, His heart, the full work of Christ, the Larger Story, who we are, our name, our call, all He’s spoken to us (10 years ago, 3 weeks ago, yesterday), all that’s unfolded before our eyes… all that’s true. We must remember.

- Craig

[Luke Tevebaugh]

Craig,
God is so good in the ways he reminds us. We did our first Boot Camp down here in FL last weekend. Afterward I was just tired. I don't read y'all's blogs often, but did come and read John's "Old Friends" on Tuesday and had a better perspective on my tiredness. And now to read your Swiss-BC account affirms what God is up to in all this.

I've been to 3 of your CO Boot Camps and 1 Advanced and am never surprised that God shows up for me. The tremendous combination of the majesty of the Rockies and the gifting of the RH team eliminates (at least for me) the surprise of God coming for me. I'm honored and humbled to say that God showed up for our ragtag group of 42 (lead by a knuckleheaded gc/realtor/software salesman/dentist quartet) in the same ways that I've come to expect at your events.

We were shocked!!! Blown away. That God would do for us and our halting attempts what he does for a bestselling author and lifetime pastor (and team of course) was something for which we really had no category in our brains.

I guess it proves the point that you guys ALWAYS make. This is not about John Eldredge or Ransomed Heart (or the Rockies or the experience or the size etc) but rather about God's jealous love and fierce pursuit of His people.

We're beginning to plan a Winter Boot Camp here in FL. Will let you know how it goes! :)

[Jill Dyer]

Luke...can i just say how your second to last paragraph really touched my heart for reasons i can't express here. thanks for commenting. it amazes me how God works through people you don't even know to speak to you. thanks!

[charlie]

It's true... it's a God Movement and not personality driven

[Allen Wallace]

Wow, this is good. I am excited about what is coming... like I'm on a board waiting for the perfect wave... here it comes...
-Allen (SoCal)

[Craig McConnell]

Luke,
"That God would do for us and our halting attempts what he does for a bestselling author and lifetime pastor (and team of course),"... a salty fisherman, tax collector, a couple of knucklehead brothers, a short balding Pharisee with an eye problem, a couple of slow-of-speech dudes... "was something for which we really had no category in our brains."

Join the club of astonished followers prone to spend inordinate amounts of time on their faces worshipping the One True One. - Craig

[Ken Hockmuth]

Craig, this really kicks butt! I am a people watcher too, not like I used to be. To see why I was better than the men and to see if I could catch the attention and maybe a look back from the women, but to try to understand the hurt and wounding in the world. With that in mind it is amazing how many men God brings to me to share my life with. He has change the term "Serving God" for me in some pretty incredible ways. The romancing of my heart by my Lover since Advanced in Co. in March has rocked my world. thanks for all you do and watch out Europe, here He comes! - Ken

[Johnny Fontaine]

Craig:

Johnny Fontaine from Louisville, KY here! Again, what you, John, Bart, and Morgan and the rest of the RH Team did under the leadership of God at the recent Boot Camp in CO was too cool for school.

My blog post about my entire Boot Camp experience got me booted from my local church. I continue with my Band of Brothers, now cut in half (the church guys bailed because they had to keep their Mr. Rogers sweaters). I am now sowing seed to begin another BOB group here in Louisville.

And, bless you...thank you for reminding that I am God's knucklehead. He loves me fierce, wild, and passionate, and as knuckleheaded as they come. And He is not giving up on me, EVER!!

[Vern Hyndman]

Integrity is the tendency for "who we believe we are" and "who we act like we are" and "who God intends us to be" to approach "one".

And most of us live in contexts of oppression, where a creeping and subtle changes occur based on external pressure to take us OFF our integrity... our identity is that of Kings, but we accept the roles of serfs in a kingdom.

So we sell our identity to appease the pressure, and we find ourselves in a role.

Actors accept roles.

Kings live in their true identity.

And occasionally, we find ourselves in a context, on some international flight somewhere, and we notice the the oppressors left the keys in the door... and someone walks out of the door into something more like integrity... someone lets the mask slip, and everyone holds their breath for a second... and when nothing smites the slipped mask being, we all take the masks off, and let ourselves just BE. Freedom is contageous when we get over being afraid of it.

Sometimes we experience this by accident on a flight like Craig did. Other times, we plan it for months... and most of us call this plan, this context, RH Boot Camp or Captivating.

RH is about encouraging the world to be what we were made to be... it is the remedial classes necessary for a adult to remember the freedom and hope of being a kid, while redeeming the rest of all we've become.

RH is in the business of planning contexts for happy accidents.

Criag, when your world and your thoughts bump me, it's always a happy accident.

-vern-

[Dana Floyd]

Love your heart and humor, and how God's signature jumps off of the page when you write about your journey. Thank you dear one.
Dana

[Kathy Leicester]

Dear Craig:

I was good until I read this:

"God calls each of us to be someone we’ve never been… it’s who we truly are.
and
"God calls each of us to do something we’ve never done… it’s usually the very thing we’ve always wanted to do but never believed we could. It’s what we were made to do...."

Then I cried, I wanted so badly to be 'there' like the Swiss fellows, instead of in the "training circle" as Gary Barkalow describes it. Plus, I was at work trying to survive until the end of the work day.

Your writing evokes something real and true and eternal that catches my heart regardless of where I am. Today it was as though God used it to remind me that there is a life and a larger story, somewhere, sometime, for me too.

So, thank you!

[Craig McConnell]

Kathy,
From the tone of your heart, I'll bet a donut you shimmer more than you know. Thank you for your kind words. - Craig

[Ruth MacAllister]

What RH does is priceless. There are countless people out there walking around wounded and weary, too anesthetized by life to know they are dead inside. Your words cut to the core of my heart and remind me once again that life as God intended was more than just getting by until we die. Thank you for fighting for those who are too weak, thank you for the eloquent words that you speak plainly and reveal God to those who have forgotten. I pray that RH continues to prosper. May God fall on you fresh, fill you to overflowing, as you pour your hearts out to those who are in desperate need of the life your ministry offers. There is incredible value in what you do! Thank you!

My heart breaks for the man I love to be fully alive again. He has forgotten how to dream, dance, smile, laugh. He needs to be ransomed! He has lost his love for God and also me in the process. The wall of bricks he has built around him is getting taller and thicker each day as he pushes everyone further away in isolation. Oh how I wish the eyes of his heart would be open to the life God has intended for him. He is literally killing himself with work and worry and my heart is absolutely inconsolable. It's too painful to bear as I watch the man I love, who was once so full of life, slip away before my very eyes. The only thing I can do is pray that God will release his heart again before it's too late and he's gone for good. He is but one of many millions no doubt.

I know the value of what your minstry offers. Please keep sharing, please keep fighting. There are so many out there that need you!

[Vern Hyndman]

Ruth, there are many stories, including mine, in which God does the impossible. Your heart, alive as it is, may be the conduit through which God calls the man you love back to him, although the road back might not look like the one you'd expect.

I've found that the promises God makes in scripture about us asking for the impossible, and trusting Him past all reason, are true. I've found that they come true in ways that I couldn't have imagines, and some that I wouldn't wish on someone I didn't like, but He does comes through. And when He does, it is redemptive in a much larger sense than we are even asking for.

If you aren't already, join us over at www.ransomedheart.com/forum. There is also www.ransomedheart.net. Chuck full of stories of redemption and of those in process.

Check this story out, this story comes from the RH sites. http://vimeo.com/5538490

-vern-