Dear CLDI Family and Friends,
You know, living in my community has taught me a lot about the importance of being present, and I can’t help but think about the wisdom found in Matthew 6:28-34, when Jesus speaks of the lilies of the field and how they neither toil nor spin, yet are cared for by God. It’s a powerful reminder of the value of living in the moment and trusting in God our Creator. I did not move into the neighborhood with this view in mind. Instead, I was focused on the future.
My neighborhood gets a bad rap for not thinking ahead; instead, we prioritize the here and now, trusting that the Lord will provide. And let me tell you, it’s been a lesson worth learning. It is seen in the small moments of everyday actions. Whether it’s folks sitting on their front porches, enjoying life’s simple pleasures, or stopping in the middle of the street to chat with a neighbor, there’s a real sense of being present and connected to one another. Sometimes, it means we don’t have all our ducks in a row when planning ahead, like with the summer camp registration slipping by in the winter. But that’s part of what makes us who we are.
I have learned all this from my neighbors and have begun to cherish it. I have also learned that I have something to offer because there is value in planning and preparing for the future. Proverbs 6:6-8 reminds us to consider the ants, who gather food in the summer and store up provisions for the winter. So, while we embrace the beauty of the present moment, we must also recognize the need for balance. But here’s the thing: balance is key. It’s about finding that sweet spot between being present in the moment and planning for what lies ahead. I’ve found myself gently nudging some of my neighbors toward looking ahead and planning a bit more, just as they’ve nudged me toward being more present.
Currently reading & listening.
This month, I am reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell; this book was a recommendation from our Board Member, Dave Goodridge! Gladwell focuses on how ideas can spread like wildfire! For example, when looking at Hush Puppy shoes, these once unused and underrated shoes suddenly became popular in the mid-1990s and quickly became must-have attire. Gladwell calls this a social epidemic, “The spread of ideas, products, and behaviors can be compared to the spread of a viral infection: for years, only a few people are affected (or infected), but then, within a short period, it becomes an epidemic.”
CLDI Monthly Snapshot
- We have officially locked in the dates for the intern exposure trip and purchased tickets. Kaylee, our Internship Director, and our four interns will leave on Saturday, April 27th, and return on Wednesday, May 8th. Please pray for the preparation and packing that goes into the trip.
- Rail//Line is having its first Advisory Board meeting since Elle Thompson has taken on the role of Apprenticeship Director. Prayers that it is a time of connection and bettering our coffee shop.
- The Warehouse Spring Session kicks off on April 10th. We have several Warehouse commitments from folks to lead our physical fitness time. We are really excited for kids to get a small glimpse of how the different elements of health all affect each other. (How diet, exercise, rest, mental health, and emotions all feed each other. Good and bad)
Scripture to Meditate On
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Mathew 6:28-33
Blessings,
Kaleb
