Something New
"I could totally live here," I announced as we sat on a bench outside and I happily licked my cookie-flavored popsicle from Las Paletas, a specialty popsicle store. "That's one more point for Nashville," I said the next day when we sipped amazing homemade ice cream sodas at The Pharmacy restaurant.
For my first weekend in Nashville, my native friend showed me some of the best of Nashville. We walked through Pearcy Warner Park as the autumn breeze blew, covering the ground with a fall blanket of colorful leaves and putting a slight chill in the air that made me wish I had brought a jacket. We shopped at REI, gawked at the central library downtown, took pictures in front of the Parthenon, and listened to live music in Centennial Park. We cooked a fall batch of chili to share with friends and went to a bonfire out in the countryside, where I enjoyed a homemade pumpkin-spiced latte and roasted marshmallows over the open fire. Perhaps that night was the most memorable of the entire trip. I met some amazing people from Anna's church, who had simply gathered at their pastor's house for some fun and fellowship just like every other Saturday night. The sports fans enjoyed a game of football, the kids swung on the tire swing and played hide and seek in the back yard, and everyone else enjoyed a friendly, yet competitive game of corn hole. It was a beautiful picture of community, fellowship, and good 'ole fun. And it was hard to leave.
I wrapped up the weekend by going to church with a friend that I grew up with, but hadn't seen in over a year since He attended college in Nashville and the decided to stick around. I understand why. I went to church with Him in a giant warehouse where Jesus-followers gathered to worship with open hearts and raised hands. I listened to an inspiring testimony of a man who used to be addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography, money, power, and prestige. Now he is addicted to Jesus and is spending his days bringing clean water to the world. I took communion with a small group of people, and we sat on the ground and shared how God had been working in our lives. Next, I went out to lunch with more people, and we sat around the table at Jackson's talking about Jesus and eating their famous cookie dough egg roll drizzled in chocolate and ice cream.
As I got in the car and headed back west on I-40 towards home in Little Rock, I watched Nashville disappear in the rear view mirror. I said again, "Man, I could totally live there." Unlike other big cities, Nashville is clean, naturally beautiful, and surprisingly not crowded. It had the big-city feel without all the clutter and cramming. I had never spent any time in Nashville until this weekend, and I really loved it because it was something new.
I needed a weekend out of town to experience something new. I saw new things, met new people, and had new adventures. That's what made me love Nashville, I realized.
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old," God says to us, "See, I am doing something new. Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-19)
God wants to take us to new places - to Unknown Peace, to Apart-From-Circumstance Joy, to Courage and Fearlessness. He wants to show us the beauty of being in a place of Bold Faith and Undeserved Grace. He knows we will enjoy living in Purpose and Freedom and Hope. He wants to take us to places we have never been so that we can enjoy Him more as we see new things, meet new people, and enjoy new adventures along the way. I want to go. Actually, I think I could even live there.
For my first weekend in Nashville, my native friend showed me some of the best of Nashville. We walked through Pearcy Warner Park as the autumn breeze blew, covering the ground with a fall blanket of colorful leaves and putting a slight chill in the air that made me wish I had brought a jacket. We shopped at REI, gawked at the central library downtown, took pictures in front of the Parthenon, and listened to live music in Centennial Park. We cooked a fall batch of chili to share with friends and went to a bonfire out in the countryside, where I enjoyed a homemade pumpkin-spiced latte and roasted marshmallows over the open fire. Perhaps that night was the most memorable of the entire trip. I met some amazing people from Anna's church, who had simply gathered at their pastor's house for some fun and fellowship just like every other Saturday night. The sports fans enjoyed a game of football, the kids swung on the tire swing and played hide and seek in the back yard, and everyone else enjoyed a friendly, yet competitive game of corn hole. It was a beautiful picture of community, fellowship, and good 'ole fun. And it was hard to leave.
I wrapped up the weekend by going to church with a friend that I grew up with, but hadn't seen in over a year since He attended college in Nashville and the decided to stick around. I understand why. I went to church with Him in a giant warehouse where Jesus-followers gathered to worship with open hearts and raised hands. I listened to an inspiring testimony of a man who used to be addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography, money, power, and prestige. Now he is addicted to Jesus and is spending his days bringing clean water to the world. I took communion with a small group of people, and we sat on the ground and shared how God had been working in our lives. Next, I went out to lunch with more people, and we sat around the table at Jackson's talking about Jesus and eating their famous cookie dough egg roll drizzled in chocolate and ice cream.
As I got in the car and headed back west on I-40 towards home in Little Rock, I watched Nashville disappear in the rear view mirror. I said again, "Man, I could totally live there." Unlike other big cities, Nashville is clean, naturally beautiful, and surprisingly not crowded. It had the big-city feel without all the clutter and cramming. I had never spent any time in Nashville until this weekend, and I really loved it because it was something new.
I needed a weekend out of town to experience something new. I saw new things, met new people, and had new adventures. That's what made me love Nashville, I realized.
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old," God says to us, "See, I am doing something new. Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-19)
God wants to take us to new places - to Unknown Peace, to Apart-From-Circumstance Joy, to Courage and Fearlessness. He wants to show us the beauty of being in a place of Bold Faith and Undeserved Grace. He knows we will enjoy living in Purpose and Freedom and Hope. He wants to take us to places we have never been so that we can enjoy Him more as we see new things, meet new people, and enjoy new adventures along the way. I want to go. Actually, I think I could even live there.
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