A Place Where Messy Is Welcome

We spent Monday evening with the staff and some friends at Bridgepoint Church in Wisconsin Dells.

Actually, we met in their newly-opened and still-under-construction coffee house, Bella Goose. It’s located next to their ministry center in a strip mall. They have the unique opportunity to work with more than 4000 international students who descend on Wisconsin Dells each summer.

They get to share Jesus with people from all over the world—right in their back yard. It’s kind of a cool way to do world missions.

We shared a great conversation about hope and God-sized dreams and the notion of changing the world by encouraging one person at a time. That’s their vision for Bella Goose—a place where a community can be created and life-changing conversations can happen.

I asked about the name, since “Bella Goose” didn’t spark any deep religious symbolism.

The manager told me “Bella” means beautiful (I knew that part) but geese tend to be messy, noisy creatures. So they want the shop to be a place that welcomes everyone, especially those who don’t have it all figured out. They want it clear that messy folks, folks with questions and doubts and problems and fears, are welcome.

Bella Goose—Beautiful Mess.

I’ll bet Jesus thought that about the chaos into which He placed Himself. I’ll bet He looked around at the people He loved so much and the madness they made of creation and thought, “Father, these people are indeed a beautiful mess!”

Don’t know about you, but I like the notion that Jesus sees my mess—and yours—as His beautiful mess.

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Wednesday offered a beautiful 40-mile ride from Baraboo to Elroy with my new friend Michael Hermsmeier.

When you follow a God-sized dream, you find yourself in remarkable spots you couldn’t have imagined. It’s the reward for taking the risk, leaving the comfort zone, and trusting.

There’s probably a more gorgeous place I could have been yesterday…I just can’t imagine where.

What’s your dream?

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