All The Trees Of The Field
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12
It’s possible that this verse speaks to me because one of my favorite artists wrote a song about it, but nonetheless it’s incredibly beautiful. It reminds me of my childhood where I grew up at the foot of some mountains where a creek ran behind our backyard. Most days were spent exploring the creek and trying to journey as far as I possibly could in order to still make it home by dinner. There was a since of adventure I felt as I got to scrape my knees on the rocks and get my shoes wet when the creek was too wide to jump across. It’s as if in those moments the real joy of the Lord had room to set in.
When we created Common Ground we wanted it to be a joyful community. Our desire was to design a space, an organization, a movement, in which the pursuit of joy was a simultaneous dance with the pursuit of Jesus. I believe that God is trustworthy as I’ve seen Him come through in my own personal life and in the lives of so many others. However, following a trustworthy God doesn’t mean you won’t get scraped up along the way or get your shoes wet during the moments that are too far to cross on your own strength. We’ve had our share of bumps and bruises along the way with Common Ground, and I expect many more to come. It’s as if when we finally think we’ve become comfortable in this dance God changes the song and we get another opportunity to learn and grow closer to Him. Those moments are when God steps in as the dance instructor, another lesson… this time it’s hip-hop. Personally, I am one of those dancers that isn’t very good because I don’t care what I look like as I dance... (the weirder the better in my mind). However, I believe God is in the business of showing us step by step what it means to actually be a good dancer. The rhythm it takes to be joyful is the same rhythm it takes to follow after God. Common Ground is trying our best to dance well and teach others to do the same. What this looks like on a real level is being intentional with people of the community of Oak View. We strive to actually know one another and learn to love one another along the way. Our desire is that when people come into our warehouse they feel a sense of joy because they feel the presence of God. We want to be known as a joyful organization not simply because we have a ton of fun together and skate and surf and do art, but because we pursue Jesus in everything we do. My goal as an organization is to continue to do what I did as a kid, explore the creek and see how far God will take us. We want to walk in peace and with joy through the rest of our story and not be afraid to get scraped up or to have the song switch on us last second. In the end I believe that is what will bring people to Christ and that is what will make the trees of the field clap their hands.
Just my thoughts
-Matt