de Krakeling is gone (for us)

Krakeling with Tailights
Originally uploaded by Photo Doocker.

Memories. Like fading glimpses into a past like, they are on the top of my mind lately. To read Todd and Eric's blogs make them even more in the forefront of the cerebral cortex.

Memories like this picture of the Krakeling lights on the semi-north side of the building (you can even see Steve in the picture if you look close enough through the bus tailights.) This picture became sort of a legend for me in the thoughts of Amsterdam. It was even used on the Gread & Partners brochure.

Memories like
- walking Amber across the bridge to Brian and Johanna's when the intervention took place
- sitting in the kitchen listening to Todd talk about grace (I was talking with Alex at the time and he seemed almost stunned)
- listening to Chris belt out With or Without You in front of a packed night
- reading the Gospels in 7 different languages
- walking down the steps at our first Easter service
-watching Jayla serve week after week in the Red Light District; reaching out, speaking out and praying out to some very broken women
- sitting in the corner one night at Soul Gathering and just listening to our small choir sing with our hearts on our sleeves - magical
- painting the office for what seemed like days with Lindy, Seth, Jayla and Todd
- meeting with Eric, Todd and Lee to do Making Peace with Your Past
- Shawn faithfully doing the slides and teaching Marco to do the same
- like Eric stepping out or his comfort zone to teach Christ even when speaking in preaching wasn't his greatest gift
- like Lee walking through many valleys only to come out on the other side a stronger and more faithful servant
- like our home group growing from 6 to 8 to 14 to 22 to 38 to 8 to 14
- like watching the Oranje on the projection TV
- like helping to clean the Marnixstraat over and over and over and over
- like looking around the "old church" in what is now the office and wondering about the potential of a smal group of people wanting to change a whole city
- like looking back and thinking "WOW!"
- like stepping on the plane with my wife and 5 month old baby on August 31st, 2005 and thinking I've gained a greater life.

There is no doubt. I've gained so much from so little. Though it makes me so sad that I didn't get to say "goodbye" to the Zolder, I'm sure happy I got to experience it if even for one night. It was gezellig and warm and cozy and most of all, filled with people who wanted nothing more than to do what we called Community.