Came around the church office side of the building, and already I could hear the laughter, the music, and the fun. Hundreds of people enjoying the cool Fall evening with neighbors, friends, and family, I could already hear and sense the enjoyment that transcended merely home cooked brisket and live country music. And I had to pause.
What started over a decade ago as a young adult social in some backwood field has morphed into something quite remarkable. Yes, today, it’s much larger than the hundred or so young adults learning line dancing moves on a barn floor; Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for 1100 to 1300 folks to show up on this festive Saturday night. And yes, it’s got lots more going on now with bouncy houses, a petting zoo, fire pits, lawn games, and photo booths. As I paused for a moment under the tree canopy on the edge of Shindig, I had to soak in a monumental change for this annual Texas-sized celebration.
Shindig has become our party.
In so many churches I know of, the faithful are known only by their specific ministry, department, or group. The youth group will do a fundraiser, the men’s group will have a retreat, the deaconesses will host a tea. . . each cloistered with their like-minded, like-interested, like-looking peers, to do things they like together, yet also apart from others. This is not to say that such specialty activities are not valuable and important. I wholeheartedly endorse the relevance and impact of each focused ministry and interest group. Having a diverse and overflowing menu of clubs, departments, topical studies, and organizations is super important to support. However, Shindig reminded me of the value of having moments all of us together can proclaim, “This is us,” and relish the bonding we have all together as a whole community.
At Shindig, being included is felt as vividly as the country chords filling the air. The various age distinctions, social silos, and specialized cliques are set aside for an evening as we all enjoy being together, belonging to each other. The petting zoo has “kids” of all ages giving TLC to farm animals. No one is carded on the sawdust dance floor. Everyone pitches in to set up and take down. Everyone belongs here.
Although young adults started it way back when, Shindig has transformed into something we all do together. And truth be told, the Shindig founders have long ago started “adulting,” so it is quite natural for this annual gathering to be a larger “us” than just young adults.
Seeing generation upon generation so engaged with each other and their neighbors truly warms my heart. Seeing the distinctions—that sometimes segregate us—give way to an ol’ fashioned evening of food and fun reminds me that we have more in common than we may realize. I was reminded that we belong to each other in ways that are as meaningful as how we belong to God. By His design and divine DNA, we are indeed family.
As I paused, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. Much like the canopy of trees, from which the lights have been hung, I recognized this sense of belonging and togetherness doesn’t happen overnight, or as a result of merely setting out baked beans and corn-on-the-cob on a solitary Autumn evening each year or so. Fostering belonging can only thrive if the roots of trust run deep. It only happens when we weather seasons together. It grows only when the Spirit nourishes our thirst and the Son shines brightly on us, then through us. Like the trees arching over Shindig, we grow together when we do life together.
Gary Livingston sums up Shindig well:
”True bonds are created when people do life together outside of church. Playing sports, serving the community, or eating meals together are just a few ways we deepen these bonds on a weekly basis. But once a year, we take fellowship to the next level with our community-oriented fall festival called Shindig. . . Despite the changes over the years, the mission of Shindig has remained. Shindig bridges the gap between community and church in the best way we know how—a good ole fashioned Texan party. This party has transformed from a backyard gathering to a celebration for the entire community. I personally have been blessed by the friendships and memories made while hosting and participating at Shindig. We hope that Shindig’s welcoming atmosphere continues to enrich the lives of our community for many years to come.”