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Writer's pictureArlene Lassiter

Looking Into Portland

Updated: Oct 13, 2022

When you’ve spent a week at Onsite, completely disconnected from the distraction of technology at your fingertips, you remember how incredibly refreshing it is to be alive in the moment - fully present & fully engaged to not only those around you, but the thoughts and feelings stirring deep within you. I tell you this, not only as a friendly appeal to prioritize time without the rectangle in your hand, but to express just how undesirable it actually becomes after a week in the ‘wild’.


During check-out at Onsite, you are given back your cell phone. Imagine reaching out for it, going to grab it with your pointer finger and thumb - to hold it out in front of you like a piece of stinky trash. Not willing or ready to be sucked back in by all it entails.

That was my experience, anyway. However, I also had homework to do & it required putting that rectangle, the piece of stinky trash, enveloped in both hands & to work. So: Power On.


The evening after leaving Onsite is very intense. It’s as if all of your life experiences, traumas, & celebrations are packed loosely in the backseat of the car after a week of reliving - not buckled up. Then the driver of the car slams on the breaks & they all fly to the front seat. Anxiously waiting to be dealt with. Asking “where are going?”, “how long until we get there?”. Newly aware - I was equipped to pay them all of the attention. Which in my case meant, no sleeping.


While wide awake, processing, praying, & reading scripture, I decided to go ahead and start “Looking Into Portland”.

Googles: Portland, OR (Mountains - check, Waterfalls - check, Proximity to Beach - check, Adventure - check, - Okay, you have my attention…) Googles: Zillow (becomes slightly alarmed at home prices!). After perusing the www for a bit & was intrigued, I knew the next step was Google: Churches in Portland, OR. I told you early on that being in like-minded community was an absolute must for wherever we would be, because I have experienced and know just how important the power of Christ-centered community is in my life. How powerful immersing yourself in the depths of scripture and relying on it & the power of Christ to get into every crack and crevice of your life and be a guide, be unconditional love, & an outpouring of that to those around you. Be transformed.


And then the Lord (or Google) brought me to a Podcast - Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR. And then I spent from 3:30am until my 8:30am flight took off, listening to sermons. I wish I could put into words just how intensely and vividly the Lord wrapped me in those hours. Maybe in time, I will find the words for that. But I was so encouraged - hope renewed - hunger activated. Queue the beginning of something beautiful. I couldn’t wait to share it with Bryan!

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