Dear Friends,
This weekend we will celebrate the life of Rich Irvin.
On social media I can find myself watching “reels” (brief, 10-30 second videos of music, comedy, snippets of speeches). Half an hour later I can find myself still watching.
There are a lot of shows on Youtube and Instagram which are only 10 minutes long and have large and growing viewerships. There are economies developing in these platforms, and many are making a living sharing reels or other short form media.
Most of my life attending, working in and worshipping in churches is the opposite of these experiences. Worship is a long form medium in a “reel” world.
I remember decades ago hearing a sermon where the preacher said, “television is a saw-toothed tool of the devil.” I wonder what that preacher would think of the social media platforms we have now.
I don’t come to condemn them. They are clearly vehicles, tools of communication. Worship is a variety of activities: singing, listening to music, praying, reading scripture, sharing the peace, communing, hearing reflections from lay people and clergy on some topic or passage of scripture.
Worship could be said to be a collection of reels used to tell a story (when it’s done right or well). We hope to tell YOUR story and where your story and faith intersect.
When I first met Rich Irvin he quickly engaged me in conversation in his backyard. He told me about his love for movies, he told me about his work as an attorney, he told me about his connection to and issues with church (both big “C” and little “c”). He laughed a lot. And it was impossible not to laugh along with him.
He offered me insights both into the legal profession these days and into life in Boulder both in and out of court. Rich loved life and loved people and danced among us in marvelous and beautiful ways.
In this Easter season I am grateful I had the chance to know Rich for a little while and bask in the delight and joy he took in life in this world. He was real.
Take some time this week or weekend for a little long form exploration of the world, your friends, your family. You will be blessed.
Keep tellin’ the Story,
Mike
Enjoy this Reel of a flash mob experience of the Lion King.
Here are the four takeaways from this week’s Loop:
- Celebrating Rich Irvin’s life this weekend
- Reels are bits of content/media shared on various social platforms.
- Worship is, perhaps, a collection of “reels.”
- Take time for long form exploration of our relationships with one another in this world.