Author: Wick

So recently, if you or any friends are even remote fans of Derek Webb, you’ve heard about his either legitimate or gimmick-rich or somewhere-in-between-those-two news of how scandalous his newest album is/will be. His album entitled “Stockholm Syndrome”.

Is it thematic? Is it a cuss word? Is it much larger than that? Is it really just a bunch of hype around some sort of hidden treasure hunt to give his fans an experience of subversion that goes beyond simply buying something? No clue.

In all actuality, I hadn’t thought much about it. Until a cheesy Christian fiction book I was reading (yup….I still read Dekker…every book…I’m an addict) mentioned “Stockholm Syndrome”.

There was a girl who was kidnapped by a psychopathic killer, and he had her locked up in a world where he was in charge. In order to gain any hope for survival, she knew she had to play by his rules. She had to think according to the “order of things” in this world he had created for her. As she began to think in this way, she began to gain an appreciation for how he responded to things. She began to empathize with him. Given enough time, being broken mentally and emotionally, she even began to side with him in some ways. This is what is commonly referred to as “Stockholm Syndrome”. When someone taken captive or being oppressed begins to bond with, side with, and even show loyalty in many ways to those who have taken them.

So where might Webb be going with this? Not sure. But it does bring up some interesting thoughts. How often do we experience enough empathy towards someone (or group of someones), whether the Church or very much against the Church…..simply because we try to exist in the world they’ve created for us?

On the other hand….God is/has created a new order of everything for us also. It is our goal as Christians and as His Church to learn/practice the language and lifestyle of that new existence, and to proclaim it….but not in a way that takes captive and manipulates. Rather, in a way that truly sets captives free. May we be proclaiming and living THAT kind of good news….

I remember back in November of 2005. We had just moved into our first home, after moving into an apartment when we first came to Decatur, IL. I was working part-time in ministry, while doing sales full time. We didn’t know where we would be down the road, but we still believed God had called us to set up a home right here.

The combination of excitement/nervousness/anxiety/thankfulness/confusion/mourning (just being honest, saying goodbye to a life with no kids)/openness/love/hope/adventure/stress/etc…..was a whirlwind. We prepared for her arrival meticulously and daily. We learned, studied, decorated, and arranged. Addison Elizabeth came (August 2006). We loved. We grew. Etc.

Back in November of 2007, I signed up to be an active citizen by serving my city on any committee they felt needed someone with my limited qualifications. They ended up assigning me to the “Decatur Parking and Traffic Commission“. It’s been a wild ride, let me assure you.

Actually, no. Not too much excitement, but I suppose that’s okay. I still feel like I’m doing something good here. People apply for handicap parking spaces near their homes, and we’re able to oblige. Neighborhoods apply for no parking zones in places of high or dangerous traffic, and we’re able to help out. Overall, we’re looking at the public parking situation in the downtown area, trying to figure out how to stop losing the city so much money. Etc.

And finally, something near my own home has come before the commission. Here’s a sample of the information we go through before making a decision:You’ll notice, it lists the number of cars going a certain direction on each road. It also lists the average speed per car. In this picture, the bottom stop sign currently exists, and the top stop sign is being proposed. I voted to approve of the stop sign, for the safety of those turning left onto Grand, and those turning left off of Grand. Most of us pretty much stop there anyway, just to be safe. Unfortunately, I just received note yesterday that instead – they’ve decided to put a “oncoming traffic does not stop” sign somewhere out there. Although I’m not sure what that will do. We’ll watch and see, I suppose.