Oct
15
2018
And So We Gathered
Posted in Worship 14 Comments
I was out of my comfort zone.
I was traveling by myself.
I was flying on an airplane.
I was renting a car when I landed.
For those who travel often for business or pleasure, what I did may not seem like much.
However, for those who know me, it was indeed a big deal.
My dear friend admitted that she never thought I would actually do this on my own.
I think it was surprising to many.
God had other plans.
Any anxious thoughts I may have had, God calmed.
Any what ifs I may have entertained were simply answered with, but God.
God had plans for me that were bigger than any objections I could have raised.
And so I flew.
I prayed.
I landed.
I drove on unknown roads to get to my destination.
I was going to a creativity conference.
Those words do not even begin to explain what I experienced.
There really is no adequate description that would capture the essence of this gathering.
I have heard others talk about how difficult this conference is to define.
I remember reading comments on a Facebook group of which I am a part.
That’s nice, I thought.
That is them.
I will be able to describe it in my own words, I foolishly thought.
How wrong I was!
How do you explain community?
How do you explain a feast?
How do you explain a little taste of heaven?
I settled in my hotel.
I drove to the church in Franklin, Tennessee where the conference was being held.
I walked inside and was greeted with warm smiles.
I was given a canvas tote, a travel mug, and a lanyard badge with my name on it.
They were expecting me.
They were waiting for me.
I looked around the room in those first few minutes.
I searched for that one familiar face.
At the moment I wondered, what did I do, a sweet young woman came up to me.
Hi, is this your first time at Hutchmoot?
I am sure it was quite obvious that it was indeed my first time.
After that first hello, the floodgates opened.
The people, with whom I spent four wonderful days, are now precious friends.
They are Kingdom friends.
We are journeying together, though our homes are scattered all across the country.
We are journeying together towards Home.
Imagine three hundred writers, musicians, artists, poets, and illustrators all under one roof.
Imagine a place of encouragement and support.
Imagine a place where you can safely talk about your work, finished or unfinished.
Imagine a place where iron sharpens iron all to His glory.
Andrew Peterson is a singer, songwriter, and author.
Andrew is the proprietor of the Rabbit Room, a website and blog.
Andrew and the Rabbit Room team knew that this community could not stay virtual.
They knew that community happens face to face, so Hutchmoot began nine years ago.
Hutchmoot is a word that defies explanation.
Moot is an old-English word for “meeting.”
Rabbits live in hutches or warrens.
Thus, Hutchmoot is a meeting that happens once a year.
One day, as we all gathered in the sanctuary before lunch, I had a chance to talk to Andrew.
I want you to know that this does not happen out there, I said gesturing towards outside.
What happens here is totally opposite of what happens in the world, I continued.
I was hoping that my words were conveying my thoughts about this place.
Out there, there is fear your own light will somehow dim if you encourage others, I said.
In here, we encourage each other so His light grows brighter, I tried to explain.
I looked and saw that Andrew had tears in his eyes.
Yes, this man is the perfect proprietor of the Rabbit Room.
I have heard Andrew describe Hutchmoot by saying it is a feast.
I think that is truly the best description.
No one competes with anyone else.
We all have a job do to for the Kingdom.
Three hundred of us were served our meals by a chef who is also a writer.
He would read a poignant essay on why he chose the meal he prepared for us.
His reasons were Kingdom reasons.
He served the Lord by serving us.
And serve us, he did.
The first night, our meal was served on real china with silverware.
There was nothing disposable about that first meal.
It was a taste of the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, where Jesus will serve us.
As our chef shared his heart, there was not a dry eye in the room.
Nothing was done haphazardly or without thought to the God we serve.
I sat there and realized that no one would believe any of this, even if we tried to describe it.
Our chef told us so; The stories are true, he said.
He is right; the stories are true.
The Story is true.
We each have to tell that Story in the way that God has gifted us to tell it.
Refusing to tell it, is not an option.
As tea was poured out of a silver tea set, we were poured out for the Lord.
As music and art was made collaboratively, we worked together for Him.
As discussions happened about books and the speakers we heard, we talked about Him.
As we ate together each day, we will one day eat new in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Community.
Fellowship.
Breaking bread around the table.
Feasting.
There were no cliques.
There were no bunches and groups.
We ate together, meeting new people along the way.
We shared stories as we fleshed out the one Story for which we came.
No two people were alike.
No two skill sets were alike.
We each came to the conference knowing we would leave with far more than we came.
We listened, we sang, we prayed, and we shared our hearts.
The Lord met us there.
The Lord met us in the stories, in the songs, and in the friendships.
He met us in the speakers, in the musicians, and in our quiet time alone with Him.
We feasted now with a foretaste of our feasting then.
The stories, if I could somehow tell all of them, are true.
The stories that any of us could share, center around the one Story that we are meant to tell.
There is one Story but many ways to tell it.
I had a glimpse of Heaven; I participated in a feast.
I am a bit homesick for this place and these people.
I left a piece of my heart there.
Each of us left a piece of our heart there.
If God allows, maybe next year in Franklin, we will meet again.
Gina, this is lovely. You captured so much of the experience so well. I’m really glad I got to meet you and hope to see you again down here or up there!
Carin, it was such a blessing to meet you! God knit many hearts together at HUTCHMOOT.
God willing, I hope to be there with all of you next year. You are always welcome here, in the town you lived in so many years ago. Blessings, friend.
Gina
Gina
Just read your whisper- beautifully
Written. Hutchmoot was truly inspiring. I’m still pondering and relishing those moments. Tis true- so much Beautiful and so difficult to put into words. You did well however, friend.
So glad you (we) stepped out of
our comfort. Jesus called us out.
And think what we may have missed.
“Courage, dear heart”
CS Lewis
Bernadette,
How glad I am that we did step out of our comfort zones and venture into unknown territory. Unknown territory that was so very sweet. I am so glad that God allowed us to meet. Next year in Franklin, friend.
Gina
I love that you experienced this – what a joy!
A dear friend went to high school with Andrew – we saw him here in Atlanta.
If you go a day early next year, I’ll drive up and meet you 🙂 or you could come by Atlanta on the way.
Love you
It was so wonderful, Diane! I would love an opportunity to see you!
Blessings, friend.
Gina
Yes!
All of this.
I’ve been eating peanut butter on bread in the mornings to remember our breakfast.
Maybe next year…
Mollie,
What a gift to have breakfast that last morning before we all went home. I am so glad that God brought us together. Blessings, friend.
Gina
LOVE this so much and truly enjoyed meeting you! You are right, finding words to describe our experience is incredibly difficult. I think many of us will be searching for them for months. So thankful for this little slice of Heaven 🙂
It was a blessing to meet you, Jeanine. I love that we have this community so that we can keep up with all the Lord is doing in our lives as we use our gifts for Him. Until next year, friend.
Gina
It sounds wonderful!! As creative people I think we have a special gift of imagination which ties our hearts to God; how blessed you were to be with 300 people using God’s gifts to them.
It was wonderful, Sue. Since we are made in His image, it is only natural that we are called to creativity in its many forms. We give back to Him the gifts He gave to us. Blessings.
Gina
To describe the “Moot” is like capturing a thin wisp of an ethereal cloud, wrestling it to the ground and holding it there for those few moments before it slips back Heavenward. Yes, a foretaste! Here you have described it well precious friend!!
Karen,
You and I know the joy of the feast. How grateful I am that God brought us together as friends.
Gina