NoahDMitchell.com

Picture this: You’re in Wal-Mart checking out after grabbing things that you had no intentions of buying just moments ago. You approach the cashier and take a quick glance at their nametag and then you say “how are you today Richard?” Richard will undoubtedly look at you like, “How do you know my name?” Sometimes they forget the big name tag on their shirts. I am one of those weird people that calls people by their name. What I mean is that when I am in Wal-Mart or at a restaurant or anywhere really, I make it a point to call my cashier or server by their name. I have seen that puzzled look many times. I have even had a person ask me if we had met before.

But then something else happens. You can almost see it on their faces! There comes this realization that you, a customer, care enough to not treat them as a means to an end, but rather as a human with a name. There comes this realization that even at work, they aren’t just a machine there to produce. There comes this realization that you don’t just want them to bag your groceries, scan your coupons, get your food quickly, or refill your drink but that you want to treat them like another human being, with a name. It’s pretty simple. Nothing really magical about it, yet it is indeed delightful.

I’ve had some wonderful conversations with people that began simply by using their name. I recently flew to Virginia for a friend’s wedding and at the airport had one of those encounters. I went to check in my luggage and simply said “How are you today Maria?” Maria looked at me with that “how do you know my name” look and I quickly reassured her by pointing to her winged name tag. Maria then got that little smile that I’ve seen a hundred times. As we finished getting my luggage checked in, all along talking about the unpredictable weather, the crazy busyness of the airport, and my weekend plans, Maria then looked at me and said “Mr. Mitchell, thank you for making my morning great. You have a wonderful flight.”

All I did was call her by her name, and treat her like a human being. This may seem like a little thing, but try it and see how people respond. There’s something wonderful about saying someone’s name and not just treating them like your personal servant. This of course, requires effort. Sometime you may even have to ask what their name is. I assure you, however, that it’s worth it. My challenge is really that simple. Nothing super spiritual about it and no corresponding Bible verses. (Though Scripture does have a great deal to say about treating people the way you want to be treated) Consider this just a friendly reminder or challenge to remember that the person standing in front of you at Wal-Mart, Fred’s, Marvin’s, Dollar General, your favorite restaurant, the gas station, or wherever you are, is someone’s husband, wife, daughter, son, mother, or father. They have a name: don’t be afraid to use it, it just may make their day!

I got to go to Texas this past week and that was great. I like that I am from Texas. As I was there, I began to realize that some things happen in Texas that makes it a unique little place. (or big place) Most of those things seem to be centered around my driving experience. Here’s a list of things that make Texas, Texas: (at least from my last trip)

Ø      When the speed limit is 60 you have to go at least 70 or you’ll get run off the road.

Ø      I was passed by a 80 year old grandma in a Buick while I was driving 78 mph. (in a 60 mph zone) She even gave me a look like “do you even know how to drive?”

Ø      Construction is ongoing everywhere and a project is NEVER really done. (There’s this area that I promise has been under construction since I was a senior in High School. (that’s about 6 years)

Ø      For some reason, pimping out mustangs is still cool. Like seriously? I saw all these supped up Mustangs…It was ridiculous. I remember that being popular in High school. Again, that was 6 years ago!

Ø      There are “official work stations.” Official work stations is Texan for spots where you can pick up illegals to do cheap labor. (I shouldn’t make generalizations. I am sure that some of the workers aren’t illegal, but the vast majority certainly are) Like the government has spent money on building actual buildings for this. The one near my house is called the “Garland Labor Center.” (I can explain this little concept a little more if you so desire, its interesting)

Ø      Cowboys apparel is available at your local grocery store. Right next to the apples.

Ø      When it says its authentic Mexican food, its authentic Mexican food!

I love Texas! I am proud to be born there and proud to visit it from time to time! But, I must say, I am glad I don’t live there anymore.

Oh, I have one more story. So there is this Wal-Mart that is sort of close to my house. It’s been there every since I can remember. Last year, I vaguely remember some remodeling going on. (I think they added like a bank or something to the front and some other stuff) It was a pretty big project, but I didn’t think anything of it. I’ve been to this Wal-Mart a million times. I went last week and had to go to the restroom, so I walked to the front of the store and proceeded to walk to the right side where the men’s restroom always is. I didn’t look and was probably thinking about what I had to pick up at the store. I walked into the bathroom and as I walked in I met eyes with a seemingly frightened WOMAN! That’s right, I walked into the woman’s restroom. I gave her an apologetic smile, and exited. Turns out when they did their little remodeling, they switched the bathrooms. I guess I’ll be reading bathroom signs for now on before I just walk into them! (By the way, who switched bathroom sides without sending out a memo or something! J) Anyways, it made for a funny story. I did run into that lady again in the juice aisle… Well I am getting back to work! Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving!

I haven’t written in forever, and with this week, I probably won’t be able to for awhile. So, I thought I should probably write today. Of course, I don’t have anything compelling to write about. 

  I’m in the process of filling out a self evaluation. Let’s just say I don’t like those. Evaluating yourself is a tough job. I’m the kind of person who is hard on myself, so when asked questions related to how well I am doing stuff, I tend to think I stink at everything. Of course, that isn’t true, (or hopefully I would be out of a job) but it’s hard to be balanced with yourself. This evaluation has made me stop and think about whether the youth ministry and discipleship ministry is going in the right direction.  

I just finished reading a book entitled Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus. I won’t go into great deal about the book, that’s Matt’s job. But I will say that it has challenged me in a number of ways. I’m looking forward to starting Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry.  This is quite possible the most boring post I’ve ever written. My deepest apologies. It’s Monday morning so what do you expect? Greatness? Hardly!  

I’ll try to have a more substantial post either right before thanksgiving or right after. Enjoy the break and I will type to you later!

Airport-traveling (people watching)

I love to travel. I am one of those weird people that likes airports and the annoying process of checking in luggage and being “randomly selected” for additional screening. ( i have not traveled in the last 2 years and NOT been selected for one of these things. I think its funny though and don’t mind a little inconvenience if that means we are all a little more safe.) I like airports. I went to Virginia last weekend for Mark’s wedding. I didn’t actually do this wedding but was able to enjoy it as I was the best man. As I made it to the airport on Friday, I realized why I liked airports. I am addicted to people watching. That’s right; I like to watch people interact. I think people are interesting and even more interesting in airports.

I got to the airport early on Friday, and since XNA is the biggest airport in America (NOT!) I quickly got through security (yes, I was selected for random additional screening. By the way I am not suggesting this is racially connected at all. I don’t think thats the case at all.) and found myself looking at the clock and realizing that my flight wasn’t leaving for another hour. So, people watching began. I put on my headphones and just watched. People are fascinating. I observed a man who obviously loved his wife, as he helped her get back into her wheelchair after she had fallen. I noticed an overwhelmingly spoiled kid throw a tantrum. I saw a kid filled with joy, excitement, and anxiety about flying for the first time. You know, you can tell a lot about people just by watching and being silent. I also noticed people frantically running to catch flights, people walking quickly even when they didn’t have to. The airport in a lot of ways, is a great depiction of our society in general. But, that’s another post entirely. 

Virginia to DC
I had the privilege to have lunch with a friend  when I landed and that began a series of eating alot for the weekend.  After that, I decided to ride the metro into DC to meet up with some other friends before the 4 o clock rehearsal in Virginia. I miss the big city so much. Riding on the metro, unknown, lost among the hundreds (Literally) on the metro was wonderful. As I sat on the metro, it was a completely different world from NWA. I met up with some friends in downtown DC and went to the National Art Museum. Very nice! DC is an intriguing city. I could live there. I like the flow, the people, and just the atmosphere.

The Wedding
Mark and Caryn are so perfect for each other. I’ve had a lot of friends get married, but I must say that they are the couple that I have always seen as being perfect for each other. That may have to do with the fact that I am good friends with both, and Mark happens to be my best friend. So the rehearsal went fine, we had wonderful food, and the wedding was wonderful.

I like simple weddings. Weddings where people aren’t stressed out about every single detail going perfect. Weddings where people don’t loose site of the bigger picture. Weddings where the love of the couple is obvious and really the only thing that matters. Weddings where you think “this couple is really going to make it.” Weddings were the focus is obviously on marriage and not a wedding day. This was one of those weddings.

Of course, when a single 25 year man is at a wedding, he thinks about the fact that he’s single. I’ve bee the groomsman, best man and the official; so perhaps, I’ll be the groom one day. 

Disclaimer: I confess that I am venting…Enter at your own risk.

So I just spent 30 minutes talking to a guy from Acquire the Fire. He called and asked if I had a few minutes to discuss a life changing event. Me, being a glutton for punishment and pain decided I would hear him out. He talked and talked about how wonderful this event was. He talked for 15 minutes. Here are some of the highlights.

Ø      “We gotta use the media against the world”

Ø      “The Media isn’t Satan, well not exactly”

Ø      “The person with the loudest voice will be heard” (I have no idea why he said this…)

Ø      “If we don’t give God 100% then we aren’t giving Him everything” (I actually laughed when he said this. I couldn’t hold it in)

Ø      “We gotta start taking back our generation. You want your kids to take back their generation, right?” (I didnt respond to this)

Ø      “If you don’t believe in something you’re willing to die for, then why are you alive?” (This was said with great passion!)

Ø      “If I was a youth pastor, I wouldn’t let my kids miss out on this life changing event.”

After all of this, he made the mistake of asking me what I thought. I began to lovingly tell him about my cynicism in relationship to “life changing large events.” I even told him about my disdain for Christian marketing junk that I receive daily and in large quantities. I told him that it’s my belief that students often come to these events and experience an emotionally charged high, which wears off shortly after they return home. I went on to ask him about his own personal experience with these types of events when he was a teenager. He agreed that he did experience emotional highs that simply didn’t last. (By the way: This guy really did seem to have a good heart. I got the impression that he really did want people to experience life change. He was very honest and open with me, which I respected. I have no problem with him, but perhaps I have issues with his employer. )

As most of you know, I have a deep contempt for all this junk. For a while, I’ve been wondering why that is. Initially it was because I don’t like having 30 pieces of mail everyday telling me that I need to send my kids to this life changing event. If I had a dollar for every time an event promised to change a generation, I would retire. What I’ve come to find is the real source of my disdain is the reality that these things don’t work and people are spending a lot of time, effort, and money on them. Acquire the Fire had over 20 events this year. There are countless other events like this that have taken place. It would be a fair estimation to suggest that hundreds of these events have taken place this year. I am unconvinced that the generation is radically different become of them. I could be wrong (and I actually hope I am) but I just don’t see that. 

I think it’s fine to go to Acquire the Fire. Sure, take your kids there. Heck, I may even take my kids there. (It’s highly unlikely) But if you are taking them to one of these events expecting some lasting revolutionary life altering experience, I suggest you will only be right for about a week….

I am one of those weird people that likes change. I find that I am constantly asking is this the best way to do this or should we change it. I’ve lived in my house for 8 months and I’ve changed the color of two rooms twice, I’ve rearranged the furniture in all my rooms at least 3 times, and I just recently changed my living room again. I thrive on making things operate efficiently and as effective as possible. I take this approach with most things in life; my job, my friends, my life in general. I hate routine, I love change.

Change for me is usually easy. I like it and find it necessary. Everyone isn’t like that. In fact, it has been brought to my attention that most people aren’t like that at all. Most people hate change. I imagine that there are aspects of my life that I am less than eager to change. For instance, I went to order a vanilla latte the other day like I always order from Starbucks, and they informed me that they were momentarily out of vanilla. (How this happens, I have NO clue!! You’re Starbucks and you should never be momentarily out of anything!) So I had to get a caramel latte. That was a change I didn’t enjoy or welcome. In general, however, I have the “if the change is for the better, let’s do it, approach.”

My dog hates change. I recently changed his dog food because he’s been eating this puppy stuff and I thought it’s a good time to give him some healthy more adult dog food. (I didn’t know such a thing existed until recently) He hates the new food. He sniffs it, and then looks at me with this face that seems to be screaming “What happened to my old food and what is this new weird stuff. Bring me the old stuff now!”

The reality is that he has no clue what the new food taste like because he hasn’t even tried it. He sniffs it, realizes that it’s not what he’s used to, and assumes that it’s not what he wants or needs.(For all he knows, this new food could be the best tasting food ever! )

The reality is that we all have this attitude to some extent. (Yes, even Noah, the guy who loves change) If we have something “figured out” or if something is “the way we’ve always done it” we usually are reluctant to even enter into dialogue about an alternative approach. I know that once I have “figured something out” I usually want that thing to stay the same. The reality is that very few things are ever completely figured out, and we should be people that are at the very least willing to enter into dialogue about different possibilities. I am so glad that the people of the New Testament were willing to look at an “alternative plan”.

(FYI: This post is not for any particular person or persons. Just Noah’s thoughts, nothing more, nothing less. Additionally, I am not talking about theological issues in this post…)

As I lay on my hammock on my deck, I begin to think about all these “What if” questions…

Ø      What if we woke up each day and prayed that God would truly guide our every step and thought

Ø      What if we took Jesus’ words seriously and loved our neighbor as ourselves

Ø      What if the Church really was a representation of Jesus  

Ø      What if people saw the church as a redemptive place and not a place of judgment and doom

Ø      What if I cleaned up my life before I tried to convict others to clean up theirs

Ø      What if my only concern in life was to bring God honor and glory every moment of everyday

Ø      What if the youth ministry marketing culture spent as much time praying as they do sending me pointless junk every single day

Ø      What if I prayed without ceasing

Ø      What if I worshipped God with all of my being instead of just the part that’s comfortable and convenient

Ø      What if we all weren’t so afraid of change and were willing to “ride” wherever Jesus took us

Ø      What if Adam and Eve had never sinned and we didn’t have this terrible thing called a sinful nature

Ø      What if we really understood how desperate we are for Christ because of our sinful nature

Man, I am so far from where God wants me to be. I am so thankful that He is faithful to lead me, even when I follow so dimly.

My mother is the cause of me changing my page. She says she was tired of seeing my picture…So, here’s to another page design!

PS: I plan to write something soon! Sorry it’s been forever!