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Chicago Mission Center Youth, 1626 State Route 31, Oswego, IL (2026)

12/22/2022

The World Awaits...

The phrase, “the world awaits,” is heard more often this time of year as Christians make their way through Advent and towards Christmas. For many of them, Advent has become a time of expectation and waiting ... usually with great anticipation. But, today, as I ran some errands around town, it became abundantly clear that what the “world awaits” (NOTE: “world” is translated here as a mass of individuals connected in and across a variety of communities ... familial, geographic, vocational, religious, academic, ethnic, etc.) ... is that which is most pressing to the individuals or any one of their communities in the moment.
Take for example the fact that a potentially dangerous snow storm is headed across the country and is bearing down on the Midwest even as I write this. Whereas much of the frantic shopping taking place in the area over the last week was probably due to persons who waited until the last minute to do their holiday shopping, the majority of shoppers today were looking for gasoline, food supplies, snow blowers and the like... none of which were intended to be given as gifts. What this part of the world awaits, at least in this moment, is a potentially severe storm. That said, between now and the time that we celebrate Christmas, the object or event for which we await may change several more times.
The question I find myself having to answer is, “How do I balance waiting for the birth of the Christ child (who, by the way, came along time ago and is sure to show up in the manger again this year), and the fact that there are so many in our world who are, and have been, awaiting something far less immanent... clean drinking water, adequate housing, nutritious food on the table, justice, acceptance, the genuine love of another human being, necessary healthcare, companionship, ...? The desperation with which much of the world awaits makes preparation for bad, even severe, winter weather seem insignificant. And yet, it is not insignificant for those who are in the storm’s path.
I’m not suggesting that we put aside our expectant waiting for the Christ child’s birth in order to make room for more immediate waiting. That birth, for many in the world brings hope and life. I am suggesting, however, that we remember that “the world” is not the same for everyone... even though Jesus’ birth signals the desire for that very thing. So, as you prepare your heart for Christmas... as you await the birth of Christ ... consider preparing your heart to allow something new to be birthed in you. If you’re willing, let that “something new” be a new and deeper understanding of all of the things “the world awaits,” and what you might do to make any of those things even a little more immanent.
The world awaits a day when God’s vision or a Peaceable Kingdom is a reality in all of its dimensions...for all of the world.

Blessings and Merry Christmas, Blake

08/05/2021

Road Signs

One might think that after having lived in an area for just over eight years, I would have a pretty good idea of how to get to most places in the communities I serve. And yet, sometimes… even with my GPS leading the way, I find myself having to backtrack because I missed an exit or a turn … or because I thought I knew a better way.

I’d like to blame my occasional confusion on the fact that certain “landmarks” occur multiple times over a matter of miles on a single road or highway, or the fact that multiple landmarks seem to repeat at almost the same intervals… appearing together in more than one place along a route. But even then, I should know my way by now. I guess it’s a good thing that I have a GPS. On those days when I lose my way or forget which home improvement or mattress store is the “sign” that tells me I’m still on the right path, having something to correct my path or help me find my way back is very useful.

Unfortunately, a GPS is good for helping me with getting around the community, but can’t do much for me or anyone else on the journey of life together in community. Even though we humans have been living in community for way more than eight years … we apparently still don’t know our way around.

As a matter of fact, in many respects, we are in danger of losing our way. We have had glimpses of the right path from time to time, but, in reality, the things that have served as “directional road signs” (acceptable practices and ways of being) have been leading us down the wrong path for too long. Though we’d like to think that the issues before us today (racism, agism, ableism, and sexism to name a few) are new… brought on by some unforeseen series of events … they are not new. On a daily basis, directional signs that have any hope of leading us to sacred community seem to be turned upside down, covered in graffiti, torn down, and/or replaced with messages that are confusing, misleading, self-serving, and divisive. It’s not that the right signs don’t exist or that we don’t know where to go to find direction. The fact is that we often think we (or someone who has influence over us) knows a better way. The question is, “how far down the wrong road are we willing to let ourselves be taken before we turn back?”

In the days leading up to his death, Jesus told the disciples … “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me… you know the way to the place where I am going.” And though Thomas seemed confused saying, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14: 1, 4-6a, NRSV paraphrased). Jesus’ promise and message has never changed. It is the same for us today. We do know the way to sacred community. We just have to be careful not to be distracted by misplaced “road signs.” Just because a sign appears multiple times on the same path, doesn’t make it the right one.

Here’s a couple
of good “road signs” for the journey…

“There are subtle, yet powerful, influences in the world, some even claiming to represent Christ, that seek to divide people and nations to accomplish their destructive aims. That which seeks to harden one human heart against another by constructing walls of fear and prejudice is not of God. Be especially alert to these influences, lest they divide you or divert you from the mission to which you are called.” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:3c)

“As revealed in Christ, God, the Creator of all, ultimately is concerned about behaviors and relationships that uphold the worth and giftedness of all people and that protect the most vulnerable. Such relationships are to be rooted in the principles of Christ-like love, mutual respect, responsibility, justice, covenant, and faithfulness, against which there is no law.” (Doctrine and Covenants 164: 6a)

Before you choose your path, check to make sure you’re following the right signs!

Blessings,
Blake

07/29/2021

Breathtaking
Image by Ram Yoga (Flickr)

Breathing is a very precious and sacred act. Scriptures remind us that it is God’s breath in us that gives us life. From the creation story (Genesis 2:7) to the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:5) to the commissioning and empowering of the disciples after the resurrection (John 20:22), breath is shown to be life-giving and life-sustaining. And yet, like many other things in life, we tend to take breathing for granted… at least until breathing becomes problematic.

I find it interesting that we use the phrase “It took my breath away” to refer to things, images, events, etc. that affect us in positive ways, because if you have ever really struggled for breath it was most likely anything but a positive experience. As a young child, I had various environmental allergies. And, as a result, I had some seasonal issues with asthma. Though I grew out of some of those allergies, there have still been times throughout my life when it has been necessary to keep a rescue inhaler with me in case of emergency. On days when breathing is easy, I tend to forget just how important is… how essential it is to our existence.

Of course, there are many reasons why any of us might not be able to breathe properly… some that are out of our control and others that are directly caused by our life choices.

Recently, I was visiting with a friend who relies on a machine to provide him with enough oxygen to do even the most limited of tasks. What once came easily to him, now seems an enormous burden. Even walking from one room to the next requires several pauses to rest before continuing on. He lives in constant fear that something unseen will “take his breath away.”

I can’t say for sure, but I’m fairly confident that most of us have made choices in our lives that we wish we hadn’t. I know this to be the case with my friend. And, because it is not my daily burden to serve as caretaker to my friend, it is perhaps easier for me to discount the fact that his condition is due in large part to his personal choices. Even though I knew he wasn’t choosing to be a burden to his family and friends who have to wait patiently for him to complete each painstaking task, I could not deny that it was in fact his choices that brought him to this place in his life.

Thankfully, we have a God that loves us unconditionally and, by His Spirit, breathes new life into us each and every day… desiring that with each new day we will make better choices… live-giving and life-sustaining choices.

Regardless of the choices we have made in the past, God’s grace opens the door for something new and different in our lives. We can’t go back and change what has been done, but we can move forward … allowing the breath of God to fill us and give us life.

May the only “breathtaking” thing in your life be the knowledge that not even your choices can change God’s love for you… a love that is unconditional, unshakable, undeniable, and unending.

Blessings,
Blake Smith

07/15/2021

Broken Body Parts
pic by Tyler Neyens (flickr)

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. —1 Cor. 12:12-13

Though I am not a “clutzy” person in general, I have been known to do clutzy things from time to time. Who hasn’t stubbed their toe at least once in life? Right? I have not only stubbed my toe(s) several times in the past, I have broken bones, tripped and fallen to the tune of a few scrapes and bruises, sprained an ankle just walking, cut myself while cooking. You get the idea. The thing is that, with the possible exception of the bruises, I have engaged in some kind of first aid to bring relief and healing to the offended body part.

To my knowledge, I have never broken a toe, and I understand that even if I had, there is little that could have been done about it. Even so, I would have done whatever possible to limit the resulting pain… propped it up, put ice on it, favored it when walking. I don’t think that I would be able to simply ignore it or discount it’s importance or value while it was broken. Like with the cuts, scrapes, sprains, and bruises, I would hope for relief and healing so that I could be whole again.

Yesterday, I was speaking with a friend who, in his words, was “done.” He was tired of being hurt by “friends,” many of them members of the church who had apparently decided, by their actions and words towards him, that he was a “disposable” part of the body. There is no such thing!! If we stub our toe, we do not cut it off and move on. If we break our arm, we do not remove it and get on with life. We actively seek relief and healing.

How often have we hurt someone or been hurt by someone only to move on… thinking maybe that if we just ignore it, the hurt will go away. The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the church in Corinth says, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.”

If the Body of Christ is to be whole, we have a responsibility to treat each other with love and kindness. Sure, we will have “clutzy” moments when we inadvertently cause injury to a part of the body, but we must seek relief and healing for those broken body parts. We must do everything within our power to provide space for repentance and forgiveness…healing and reconciliation… “encouraging and building each other up” (1 Thes 5:11).

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Cor. 12:27)

Will you be the one to look to the broken body part and prop it up, put ice on it, favor it while walking this journey together? Life is too precious, friendships are too few, and sacred community is too valuable not to.

Blessings,
Blake

07/08/2021

Walk the Woods at Night

Throughout my grade school and teen years, I spent a lot of my summer vacation attending church and scout camps. I have vivid memories (some pleasant and some a little scary) of walking the paths at night… sometimes when the moon was full and bright and sometimes when the moon was nowhere to be found. Suffice it to say that I was a very impressionable young boy, and open to the possibility of truth in the stories of nefarious things roaming the woods at night. So, when I read the following reflection by Job Bergstrom, Chaplain at Friendship Village in Schaumburg, IL., I connected with it immediately.

Chaplain Bergstrom writes…

“Years ago, I used to work at a camp in the Northwoods where the nights get very dark. Sometimes for fun I would try to walk down a path in the woods at night without my flashlight. It was a real spiritual exercise of trust. It forced me to slow down, be very aware of where I was stepping, and to trust my other senses that I often neglected. To walk the woods in the dark, you must slowly raise and lower your foot, asking “Am I still on the path? Are there obstacles in the way?”

Sometimes in our spiritual lives it is important for all of us to slow down and be deliberate – to act like we are walking in the woods at night. Slowing down allows us to reflect, to become more aware of ourselves and of God’s path, to move forward slowly, and examine if we are indeed on the right path. If we feel we are indeed on the right path. If we feel we are headed in the wrong direction, we can repent, turn around, and let God lead us.

Over time, I came to learn when walking the paths at night, that most often – even on the darkest nights – there would be a difference between the color of the trees and of the sky. So, if you walk with your head held looking up, you can see the break in the trees where the path is and use this as guidance and direction. Slow down, be deliberate, and fix your gaze toward the heavens. May we use [those moments of walking in darkness] as a time of repentance and returning our gaze upward, seeking direction as we await the rising sun and the dawning of God’s eternal light.”

When have you “walked in darkness?” What has served as guidance for your path forward? Was it something as subtle as the slight difference in color between trees and sky, or perhaps your practiced orienteering skills and the help of the stars in the sky? Was it the encouragement of a friend or the promise of God’s presence with you? Was it your natural intuition or a gift of the Spirit?

Maybe you haven’t yet found your way down the path. Whatever the case… know that you are never alone.

“Lift up your eyes and fix them on the place beyond the horizon to which you are sent. Journey in trust…” (Doctrine and Covenants 161:1a, Community of Christ)

Blessings,
Blake Smith

06/17/2021

“All-Inclusive”

Last week, my wife and I joined another couple for a vacation get-away in Mexico. It was a two-part vacation. The first three days were set aside to attend the wedding of my cousin’s daughter. The remaining time was spent at another resort in the area. We were very excited about the trip for several reasons, but among those reasons was the fact that we would be staying at two different “all-inclusive” resorts. It was a first (and second) for us.

Having never stayed at an all-inclusive resort before, we didn’t know exactly what to expect. All that we knew was that it meant that our food and drinks during our stay were included in the price of our room. That is, in fact, the technical meaning of “all-inclusive.” Consequently, that is all that the resorts were “required” to provide. What we found in our time there is that “all-inclusive” can mean so much more.

Both resorts provided endless options…and quantities…of food and beverage at no additional charge. Both offered 24-hour room service. Both had multiple pools with towel service and waiters who would get whatever we needed or wanted. Both provided an experience above and beyond any previous vacation experience. But there was a few differences … though our experiences at both resorts were great, there are a couple of things that made one stand out.

Upon entering the first resort, we were greeted by several employees. We were handed a refreshing cucumber (non-alcoholic) drink and taken to a comfortable seating area where we were allowed to sit and rest while our greeter checked us in. We were assigned a “host” for our stay whom we could call with any need. Each day, we received a communication or visit from our host making sure that everything was OK. Every member of the staff (from maintenance to manager) always greeted us with a smile and friendly words. We were treated as dignitaries at every turn. There was no distinction between us and any other guest on the property.

At the second resort, we actually had to check ourselves in. I know… can you believe it? But what’s more important was that we were given wrist bands. At first, we didn’t think much of it. We just assumed that it let the staff know that we were guests of the resort. We did notice, however, that even though all guests wore wrist bands, not all guests wore the same color wristbands. As it turns out, we had been “tagged” in a way that determined just how “all-inclusive” our experience would be. We did enjoy pretty good service… until we said “no” to the timeshare opportunity. Apparently, the potential to upgrade from a yellow wrist band to a gold, bronze, or black one was enough to secure faster, higher-quality service. But, when it was clear we would always be “yellow,” the special treatment ended.

Sure, we still had all you could eat and drink, but servers became harder to find. We had access to golf carts to get around the resort, but they took 2-3 times longer to arrive if at all. We could eat in any restaurant we wanted, as long as we had reservations…and someone with a classier wristband color didn’t beat us to the seat.

As a person who considers himself to be pretty “all-inclusive” when it comes to loving and accepting and honoring other people… the experience did make me wonder just how inclusive I really am. Do I welcome all I encounter as “dignitaries” who need no wristband to prove they are worthy of my time and hospitality, or do I engage people by the hidden meaning of their “wristband” (clothing, presence of tattoos and/or piercings, skin color, religion, gender identity, housing situation, physical attraction, apparent wealth or lack thereof…)? Am I truly “all-inclusive” as Christ was? Is my love and welcome as unconditional as God’s is?

How about you? Does you “all-inclusive” include only what is required, or is it so much more?

Blessings,
Blake Smith

06/03/2021

God Is…

Writing a weekly blog intended to provide encouragement, inspiration, and/or challenge requires that I remain vigilant in watching for the movement of God in the people and events and circumstances around me. Sometimes, the task is easy. As a matter of fact, I often find myself having to pick and choose from several possibilities brought about by the events and experiences of the past week. If I’m being honest, however, there are also weeks that I get to the task of writing and find myself having to search far and wide for a thought or a topic. Could it be that God is taking a break?

In a class I attended recently, it was mentioned that when asking others the question, “Where have you seen God in your life this week?,” the asker is often met with silence and blank stares. In the sharing of that observation, I was reminded of my own struggles to find God sometimes, and I began to wonder a little more deeply as to why this is the case.

Several possible answers were offered by the class participants. Some suggested it is because we have been conditioned to go through life either believing God is present at all times and in all things and therefore don’t give it much thought, or we are simply so blessed (privileged) that we don’t need to think about it… we just take it for granted… at least until we hit hard times and need God. Others suggested that perhaps folks were reluctant to speak about their experiences with God because they didn’t want to “toot their own horn”…they didn’t want to give the impression that their relationship with God was more or better than someone else’s. I think there are also some who are waiting for an earth shaking, life changing, undeniable miracle or sign that leaves no room for doubt. (Wouldn’t that be nice?)

The first disciples walked and served with Jesus, and yet they still asked for signs. The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted signs as well. Why should we be any different…right?!

All I can say is that I know from my own experience that God is always moving, albeit sometimes rather subtly, in our world and, more specifically, in our lives. It is not out of a sense of pride that I have noticed these things, but rather out of humility and awe that I testify to God’s goodness and faithfulness… to God’s presence in the everyday. I have seen God at work as I sat and quietly watched from my front porch… while standing in line at the grocery store… while sitting and talking with/listening to a friend … while participating in a march for justice… while watching young children at play without thought of skin color, religious preference, social/economic status, or gender identity.

It is in those moments I realize that perhaps I have not paid close enough attention as I have gone about my daily tasks. It is not God who has taken a break…it’s me?

If you are having trouble finding God moments in your life, stop… breathe…

listen… watch… serve… live. God is here. God is everywhere. God is in the big and the small… in the crisis and the celebration … in the laughter and the tears… waiting… loving… acting… forgiving… moving… creating.

If you’ve been taking a break, that’s OK. Just know that God is…(fill in the blank)!

Blessings,
Blake

04/29/2021

Closed Doors and Untouched Grasslands

While recuperating from recent surgeries, I had a little more TV time that usual. One of the shows that captured my interest was The Crown. In one particular episode, the royal family, in an attempt to justify their salaries to a doubting nation, allowed cameras behind closed doors to see the “real” daily life and work of the family. The resulting documentary backfired a bit. Rather than bring about the endearment they had hoped for, by removing the “mystery,” the public was left with wanting. No longer was there any room for imagination or awe. The truth was plain…they were just eccentric people living an extravagant life.

A similar thing happened right in my back yard. No, the royal family didn’t come for a visit. Our yard backs up to a meadow that, since our arrival here, has held mystery and intrigue. The dry grasses typically stand somewhere between five and six feet, and block the view of what lies below and beyond. Recently, we received word from the township that there was going to be a “controlled burn” of the grasslands. In the days and weeks that followed, the grasslands were cleared. Except for a few feet of grasses on our side of a small creek, what lies beyond is now simply a barren field. Gone is the mystery of what lies beyond. Anything… exciting or scary… that might have lurked there has moved on. There is nothing left to the imagination. The awe is gone. I am left to wonder if, when the grasses have returned, the mystery will return as well.

I also wonder in moments like these why we work so hard to uncover the mystery of God… to take our cameras behind closed doors or to engage in a “controlled burn” of our previous understandings of God. While I do believe it is important that we strip away the things that humanity … in its desire to prove its knowledge, its power, and its perceived authority… has written into the story of God as a means of being in control, I also believe we can go too far.

Thankfully, unlike the royal family or the grass fields, God is beyond our full knowing and comprehension. With the royal family, we see only what they want us to see. With God, we often see only what we want to see. In the case of the grasslands, we are left to believe that, once the grass has been burned away, we see all that there is to see. But, the reality is that we cannot see the habitat and ecosystem designed by God that still exists in some form even though it is not apparent to the casual passerby.

This is all to say that there is great value in mystery, imagination, awe, and ultimately… in faith. We were never intended, at least in this life, to see behind the closed doors or to burn away that which seemingly blocks our view. When the doors are open and the grasses are cleared, we begin to think we know the fullness of reality, and in doing so we gain a false sense of security. In the end, if we are not careful, we perceive that we have lost our need for God.

Sure, with increased knowledge, we can walk on the moon, cure diseases, build skyscrapers, and split atoms, but we must always remember, it is God that is the source of that knowledge. Without God, there is no mystery. Without mystery, there is no sense of awe. Without a sense of awe, there is no curiosity. Without curiosity, there is nothing new, and… well … what is the joy in that?

Personally, I prefer that a few doors remain closed and a few grasslands remain untouched. That way I never get to the point of thinking I know God well enough that I no longer need God. How about you?

Blessings,
Blake

04/24/2021

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