This semester has seen a tremendous amount of growth, and I
wanted to take the time to share what I've been learning. I think it’s amazing
that I can sit in architecture classes and start connecting things in
architecture with aspects of what it means to be a follower of Jesus (hence the
title of this blog).
I've been drawing a lot lately during worship. It seems like
with every worship encounter, I get ideas of pictures to draw, things about God
and things about my studio projects. In the beginning of the semester, I was
hesitant to share because I didn't think they were that good. But after
thinking about it, and listening to some encouraging words, they are good,
because I’m using my creative mind and heart to listen to God. In fact, one
Thursday, I wasn't planning on going to Thursday Discipleship Group because I
had a lot of things to get done for studio, but after I got done teaching lab,
I found myself driving to church instead. The activation for ministry time was,
you guessed it, practicing receiving pictures from God and drawing them. I
immediately started crying because I realized that was the reason I was meant
to be there that night. Needless to say, I've started carrying a small sketch
book around, because I have become expectant to hear from God at any moment in
my day.
One assignment for my Architecture Theory class is to write
a manifesto of what I believe architecture should be. I have a rough draft so
far, with the final draft being due at the end of the semester, but so far I
have taken the stance that I believe that architecture should bring glory to
God, and that his Spirit should and does dwell in the places and spaces that
are created. Think about all the time that God took to explain how the temple
should be built, what materials they should use. Those are called construction
documents and specifications today. Amazing, right?
So a few weeks ago, again during Architecture Theory class,
we had a guest lecturer talk about the social issues in architecture, and she
used the word advocate to define what architects are. And it was like I
immediately zoned out to what she was saying and started focusing on what God
was saying. So advocate: John 14:26 says “But when the Father sends the
Advocate as my representative--that is, the Holy Spirit--he will teach you
everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” So when Jesus
leaves, he says that he will send another Advocate to help us. In the same way,
as architects, we are advocates to make a better future for the people that we
design for. For me, it’s not about being known as a Starchitect, (see Frank
Gehry) or becoming someone famous, it’s
about making God famous and about allowing people to encounter His presence in
the places that they inhabit.
The last way that architecture is teaching me about the
Spirit of God is with the symbolism of foundations. I’m, of course, learning
about the importance of having a good foundation for building construction.
There has to be soil testing, and a lot of calculation to meet the needs for
the load of the whole building as it meets the foundation. Without a proper
foundation, the building as a whole has major structural issues as things start
to settle. Do you hear Jesus’ teaching on the wise and foolish builders…or are
you singing the children’s song right now? (Matthew 7:24–27)
This Sunday, Putty mentioned John 14:12 ” I tell you the
truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even
greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” And that Jesus’ works
are the foundation. Well, Sam, there’s
that word again, what are you going to do about it? I drew a picture of a
foundation slab-on-grade that represented Jesus’ works. The foundation is also
supported by isolated footings that are his works, signs, wonders, miracles.
After the foundation is set, you can start framing the rest of the building. The
rest of the building is the “same and even greater works” that we get to do. We
GET to do it!! And then I started thinking about a building, you never really
get to see the foundation. If you’re standing at a distance, what do you see?
You see the walls, the roof, maybe a door and some windows. It’s only when you
get up close that you may see how the building interacts with the ground, you
see the slab, or maybe a retaining wall. It can be the same way when people
experience God. What do they see? They see what I’m doing. They see what we are
doing, they see our love for each other, and they see our passion. And then
they get up close, and bam! They see our foundation, they see Jesus and how we
have anchor bolts firmly planted in his foundation. (Anchor bolts are just what
they sound like, they anchor the framing members of the walls into the
foundation so they don’t go anywhere.) This is so good!!
I realize this has a whole bunch of technical terminology,
and I’m sorry if you don’t understand most of it, but that’s pretty much it.
That’s how going to school for architecture and learning about the construction
process of buildings is revealing who I am as a follower of Jesus.
