My Wednesday Nights

Ashley and I have been involved in a number of community activities in the city for a while now,  both together and on our own. Most of these we have talked about before in either our newsletters or our blogs.  We’ve got our hands dirty with the St. Paul’s garden project, Ashley’s craft group, “Blingo” night at school,  and events through a partnering organization called Inspiring Leith such as Archery day, Movie club for kids, and the community “Map of Leith”.  But there is one more group worth mentioning,, perhaps the group that I (Nic) am most passionate about, Pub Poker Night.

Hopefully that doesn’t drop too many jaws.  Yes, it does involve gambling (6 pounds,  less than the price of a movie ticket). Yes, it is in a loud and sometimes rowdy pub often full of very “earthy” people.  And its absolutely incredible! 

It should  be said that Pub culture here in the UK is much different than in the states (at least in my experience and by reputation). “Pub” is short for “public house” and is very much seen here as a central piece in the community. In my pub, the Harp & Castle, there are darts leagues, pool leagues, domino leagues, and loads of groups in to eat dinner and watch the football.

Now, if you have ever tried to interact with “locals” on a mission trip, or even just moved to a place where you don’t know anyone, then you know it can be difficult to connect with people who seem like they couldn’t be more different than you. And you likely over emphasize and cling to the one relevant issue you think you may have in common.  That certainly is the case even here, in a 1^st world, English speaking nation. As a 24-year old American from a middle class family who just finished a masters Biblical studies, there’s not much reason for Terry, a rugged 37 year old street cleaner, to converse with me, let alone build a relationship. There’s no real reason Mic,  a 55 year old roofer, or Connor, a 20 year old University student, to strike up a conversation with me when I walk into a pub. They are locals, born and raised here. They brought their own friends. I’m not saying we wont have a conversation, even a very pleasant one. I’m simply saying that there’s not always an easy “in” to these people lives for outsiders.  And without a reason to see the same people often, it’s hard to get to a place in a relationship where you can speak truth into the lives of those you do life with. That’s where Poker comes into play.

I love it! I’ve played the game since Junior High. Its exciting and competitive and awesome. You might say, “Nic, there have to be other “better” or more wholesome groups that you can be apart of to connect with people. There are others, and we do some of those as well. But honestly, I think this is where Jesus would be. In these sorts of places, engaging with these sorts of people where they are. Plus, I know of few better activities for building community.

On a typical poker night, there are between 20-30 men and women show up, most of whom have know each other for years. Approximately 3/4 of the group actually work in casinos around the city. I go in to the pub and chat with  a few familiars,  grab a pint, and sit down at a table with 7 other people. Most nights I wearing the same “University of Edinburgh” jacket I normally do. I typically am “in the hand” (actually playing/paying attention to the game) 1 in 3 hands. The rest of the time we talk about life. I have to tell you, no other activity in my time here has generated more deep, honest conversations about God, the Bible, the Church, and religion than playing poker. They have accepted me as a friend and a “regular” so the hard part s over. I’m not a faker. In their eyes, I have a legitimate reason to be there and engage them in discussion. I ask them about themselves and they tell me about their lives. We talk about their financial struggles and about abuse in their marriages. They talk about football and about exams they crammed for the night before. Normal conversation. Then, seeing my jacket, they ask me what I study, I answer, “Biblical studies”…… EVERYONE has an opinion about the Bible.

             

The first time I showed up wearing that Jacket, I was asked about my studies, Jimmy has tons of questions for me. He lives in government housing a few blocks away from us; a place full of  “trouble and drugs” (his words). As soon as he heard me say that I studied “biblical studies,” he got on the defensive. He jumped at me saying “I’d study Islam or any Eastern or New Age religion before I looked more into the Church.” This then turned into a 30-minute conversation about the modern Church versus what is seen in the Bible, and even historical reliability of various religious texts. No one was saved, but no one stormed off from the table either. Jimmy and I have since had several interesting and relatively deep conversations. I have to believe God is working on his heart!

My friend Richie is probably the nest poker player I have ever met. He is also an incredible, stand up guy. He’s a 33-year old construction worker that comes with his wife, Lorna, that works in the casino. As luck would have it, we have ended up at the same table most nights I go. One three separate occasions, we have been joined by men who have either had entirely too much to drink to be playing poker, or are high on Marijuana. They are hopeless at a table like this, easily taken advantage of. Even though these men have been loud and annoying, I’ve tried to see this as an opportunity to serve and get to know people better. So, on these occasions, I have acted as their nurse-maids: making sure they put in the right amount of chips, helping them collect their winnings, making sure no one takes advantage of them in their state. After the second time of doing this, Richie complemented me on playing nursemaid to  “those poor buggers”. And preceded to buy me a pint—one of the highest forms of flattery in a place like that. Since them, Rickie and I have talked about his life, and he has heard me talked several tomes about the Bible and about the way Christians are suppose to live their lives, which is often very different than what have experienced in the local, disconnected churches around the area.

There are so many relationships I have cultivated now that I know God might use me in. There is Dave, the league organizer that spoke with me for nearly an hour about the way Christians have hated the homosexual community. Mike and his girlfriend Sarah are broken, but brilliant people, who spend 5 nights a week jumping around to different pubs. Paul, the perpetual stoner. Nikki and his girl friend Jenna. Carman. Connor, who just ran for student body president of his university class. I’ve met Terri, who thinks I have a deep southern accent and always makes fun of me, but who has a deep love for his sick wife. I’ve got to know Brian, a floor manager at a casino in town and gets incredible respect from the guys. He also buys me drinks on occasion, and we carry on extended conversations well after we finish playing at the poker tables. There are probably 2 dozen people in all that know me by name and would carry on a conversation without hesitation in that poker group and that I take great pride in. Many of these people I have seen and conversed with on the streets of Leith, because this is their home, and they recognize me as part of it.

Incarnational ministry, by living incarnationally—meeting people where they are, befriending them, loving them, speaking truth to them…. That what it’s about. That’s what Jesus would be doing. That’s the only way these people are going to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus.

I hope this doesn’t come off as bragging, especially since no one has been led to Christ …yet. But it is really exciting stuff and I come home many nights (very late) excited about the friendships and conversations God has placed in my life. Please continue to pray that I am wise, strong, and a continual representation of Jesus in a place and to a people who desperately need him…. They just don’t know it yet J.