Diverse Word: Beautiful Chaos
Issue 016
MAY 30, 2018
WRITTEN BY SHAWN WELCOME
“And next up to the stage, I’d like for you to give a huge round of applause welcome for Optic Thunder!!!” (raaaaaaahhhhhhhh) Ok… I don’t actually know anyone named “Optic Thunder” and most artists just write their government alias on the sign-up sheet to be introduced by, but I figure I’d set the tone.
In 2006, a series of experiences culminated into the inspiration behind what is now called “Diverse Word.” It’s an open mic night I started on Tuesdays in the front patio area of a vegan and vegetarian restaurant just north of downtown Orlando called Dandelion Communitea Café. Imagine a night sky with dining patrons facing a mic stand. The speakers are like ears working in reverse. People spanning the human spectrum anticipate who the next artist will be! As host and poet, most of the artists are poets like me, but this contagious celebration of self-expression of various content and styles has effectively become a ministry of sorts.
My intent was never to “start a ministry.” My intent was to start an open mic night that was unlike anything my city had to offer at that time, particularly as it relates to diversity… diversity in poets, diversity in content, diversity in the delivery of that content, all operating in the same space. Previously, I found myself in an open mic scene that was homogenous in one or more of those examples and I had a vision for more. While I appreciated the stages I was able to perform on and listen to others on, each space felt too exclusive. I thought I could create something new. My intent was to do what was in my heart; I wanted to create my ideal version of an open mic.
What does this have to do with God or the church?
The traditional church structure works well for many people. For those who are interested in or who have chosen to follow the teachings of Jesus, what a privilege it is in the United States to have laws in place that protect the rights of that religious expression… where people can gather amongst fellow believers in an organized fashion to learn and grow and be affirmed and adopt a sense of accountability to one another and build community. It did me well to be in this type of environment at a young age and still does as an adult.
The challenge is that the “success” of the traditional church has effectively paralyzed many believers into not operating in the anointing afforded to them through Christ as recorded in the scriptures. The one-way communication (preacher to congregation) aspect of a standard American weekend service, as great as it may be, has a subtle way of broadly communicating over time “What I have to say is way more valuable than what you have to say.” It is unintentional, but the enemy has used this idea to his advantage by inspiring thoughts of jealousy, envy, and pride in the institution, people fighting for position (a form of value) in the church, clouding the understanding that our value comes from the fact that we were individually created by the same God who designed the Milky Way and beyond. Outsiders find justification for criticisms and the cycle continues.
“What I’ve found to be a strength of Diverse Word is that others, regardless of their content are afforded the opportunity for their God-given gifts to be affirmed publicly.”
While the two expressions aren’t mutually exclusive, what I’ve found to be a strength of Diverse Word, is that others, regardless of their content are afforded the opportunity for their God-given gifts to be affirmed publicly. Could you imagine a preacher on a Sunday morning saying, “does anyone have something to contribute? Raise your hand and come up to the stage.” While there may be rational thought around not doing this, the open mic unlocks many things that may not happen in a “church” but is essential to that person’s growth. Even in small groups, you may not hear expressions of rape, suicide attempts, conflicts with religion, struggles with sexual orientation, abortion stories, or frustration around racial injustices. I recall a one-legged transgender individual reading a poem about his experience fighting in the war in Vietnam. And after there was an order to destroy a village, he secretly turned the gun on himself, blowing his leg off to get out of the war… and have since changed his sex… Is the traditional church judgment-free enough to listen to, or love on a person like this before hearing their story? It’s probably why many stories like this don’t get shared and they come to places like Diverse Word to process their trauma.
I’ve heard testimonies from people that said things like, “Every time I come to Diverse Word, it's like a slice of heaven.” And “When I was diagnosed with cancer, I first came out to Diverse Word to see how other people spoke about their problems since I’ve been coming, I’ve been healed of it and I keep coming back.” One guy told me he heard the Lord tell him “those are your words but what about my words?” In many instances, without me mentioning a word, people who are about to sign up ask me if they’re allowed to use curse words on the mic. I chuckle or smile almost every time because other than me not using profane or sexually explicit language, I’ve never indicated a guardrail around what can or cannot be shared. My answer is always the same. “No… do you.” Which is to say, “come as you are.” Some have songs, some process through comedy, and others through poetry. It’s been almost 12 years now and the so-called magic continues.
What the open mic does not offer is a clear, unambiguous, and consistent gospel message in plain language… followed with a direct appeal to follow Christ. But I often wonder if the gospel is uniquely expressed as this audience of diverse beliefs and value systems allow themselves to be led by a Christ follower operating civilly with those of different faiths. What does that do for those with skewed stereotypes towards believers? And what does that do for other Christians in the audience who witness this kind of demonstration?
I’ve long had a sense that this eclectic social gathering was more than just a poetry night. Many times, we pass by things because they’re too subtle and too simple. Diverse Word can appear very formless, chaotic, and void of anything particularly spiritual, but I believe His Spirit is hovering over it and is manifesting seeds of righteousness among those gathered. I believe we must embrace a creative God who uses creative ways in the most unlikely of contexts to reach any and all He desires. We must remember that the Creator of everything is reconciling all things to himself as it was in the garden before the fall. And semblances of an age to come that is present in the Earth is worth recognizing as nothing short of His plan at work.