Dean, you asked me to tell you more about the people who currently encourage and inspire me to follow The Way.

You mentioned cyberspace. In that realm I've been a volunteer for Off The Map (http://offthemap.com) for about 18 months (at present I'm their website manager). Off The Map's mission is to "promote otherlyness, the spirituality of serving". The site is run by followers of Jesus who would like to see all followers of Jesus remembering that he came to serve, not to be served.

I think if we were to take a survey of people who aren't Christians and ask them, "Would you describe Christians as people who 'serve you'?" we would not find them all answering with a definite "yes." I see serving as closely related to following The Way. That's why I'm happy to give my time to an organization encouraging people to become better at serving others.

Off The Map hosts events and their website has a number of blogs that people comment on.

Through these I've met lots of interesting followers of The Way online and offline. I've met Brian McLaren who is bringing his Deep Shift tour to Oak Park in a few months (First United, April 4-5). The deep shift Brian hopes to see would result in Christians taking more practical steps to address global poverty and injustice. The event aims to help Christians move further in that direction. Brian is convinced this is what Jesus wants Christians to be doing.

I know there are many followers of The Way right here in Oak Park and River Forest - at least according to my definition, which requires no particular beliefs, only demonstrated "otherlyness." They are actively involved helping in our schools and communities, going over and beyond in their jobs, or simply being the sort of people who put a smile on other people's faces rather than making the lives of others more difficult. I run into them every day and read about them in here every week.

The Way is not a well-kept secret, known only by a few. Anytime we think, "I suppose it wouldn't kill me to be kind to this person, whether they 'deserve' it or not," or notice, "Wow, this person is having an even worse day than I am," The Way is right there, inviting us to be followers.

Following begins simply, with a kind word and a smile. Sometimes it goes much further.

I believe all but the most unhappy or self-focused people hear that invitation many times each day. It's an invitation, not a command: the choice to follow is ours. I'm hoping to make that choice more often and be a better follower of The Way in 2008.

Helen Mildenhall
Oak Park