God In Chicago

A podcast about Chicago would be incomplete without a ride on Lake Shore Drive, the beautiful highway that traces the lakefront, taking you from the city’s northernmost neighborhoods to those at its southern edge.

Lake Shore Drive is best experienced when there is lighter traffic, either at night with the city lights on one side and the dark abyss of the lake on the other, or in the morning, where the full life of the lake is on display.

The joggers and cyclists along the lakefront, the 40-mile per hour, easy riding place of the traffic, the miles of parks and trees which run along the drive , and the breath-taking architecture of the city unfold as you go from the south to the north side.

I have taken the drive today all the way to the northern end of Lake Shore Drive, which deposits travelers in the neighborhood of Edgewater, just blocks from the lake. I drive through quiet, tree-lined blocks of pretty good sized two-story homes, spacious two and three story homes, and brick apartment buildings. It’s the kind of setting that encourages you to go for a walk or a jog around the block.

I almost missed my destination, it blended in so well with the surrounding buildings. There were two entrances - one set of double doors on the side of the building, and at the top of a flight of stairs, a young woman held the door open at the front entrance. She greeted and welcomed me as I walked inside.

The small auditorium was a cozy, intimate space, like the kind of place where you might come to watch a small, independent theater play. Young millennials and college students were deep in energetic conversation, clustered in pairs and small groups as I took my seat. They look comfortable, with each other, and in this space this place feels like the common room of a private college dorm. I feel comfortable.

The journey continues on the north side, at the corner of Hollywood Avenue and Glenwood.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

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I see two men standing and talking by the side of the off ramp as I exit off the expressway onto Central Avenue, They are not holding any signs. They are not even facing the cars stopped at the red light. Yet, it looks like if they had a cool indoor place to go, they would rather be there.

Across the street, in the median, another man paces slowly amidst the foam cups, plastic bags, and other litter scattered around the on-ramp to the expressway. I glance to my right, and see a whole pile of garbage dumped along the side of this exit.

I made my way down Central through the Austin neighborhood on the city’s west side. I arrived on a beautiful stretch of Jackson Boulevard populated by well-maintained lawns, brick two-flats with a late 1950s architectural design, and one-story bungalows.

What I did not know as I walked up the short set of concrete stairs towards the front entrance of my destination, was that just six weeks earlier two men had been murdered by gunfire on these very same steps, at nearly the same time of day as I was ascending them on this morning.

I learned about this tragedy after my visit - and to be honest - I probably would not have come to this location if I would have known about this incident beforehand.

What does that say about me?

What does that say about God?

I don’t know. What I do know, is that this building was still open on the morning I visited. People were still assembling in this space. And they were well aware of what had taken place here six weeks ago. I don’t feel qualified to describe what that says about their connection to God. I do feel humbled and grateful to be able to - in some way - bear witness to this community of people.

The journey continues in the Austin neighborhood on the west side, at the corner of Jackson Blvd. and Laramie.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

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The west loop is marked by quiet and clean streets, new and renovated 3-5 story condominiums, lofts and offices - most of them converted from the warehouses and fresh food markets that once dominated this part of the city. People walking with their kids, or with their dogs. The scene looks like the architectural renderings you see for new real estate developments.

Colorful vertical banners mark the parking lots and guide the way to the building’s front entrance. Two steps into the lobby, and the scene looked like the opening of an independent film screening, art exhibition, or album listening party.

There was a bustling coffee stand where young professionals and college students were gathered and talking in small groups. Nearby, more people were congregated and socializing, waiting for the auditorium doors to be opened.

What was clear in my first few minutes in this building, was that this space had been carefully and meticulously designed for this crowd. And the people assembled in here this morning looked like they knew they were in a space that had been designed particularly for who they were, what they liked, and how they lived.

As the seven-person band led the audience in song and the house lights were dimmed, gentle clouds began to stream from a fog machine behind the front stage. Overhead, track lightning and stage lightning complete the concert-like atmosphere.

The journey continues on Racine Avenue and Adams.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

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I exit Lake Shore Drive and pass by the gleaming new Marriott hotel, the stately Hyatt hotel, and the massive McCormick Place convention center. I pull up to a quiet, semi-industrial stretch of Wabash Avenue. An ‘L’ train passes by on the elevated tracks a block away.

At this intersection, there’s a brick warehouse with brick-filled windows. Alternate colored bricks along the window bays mark where the original windows once were.

The parking lot next to the brick warehouse is cordoned off by a chain link fence, which has the words Pray for Peace affixed to it. Small construction equipment and vehicles are parked in the parking lot across the street.

Standing proudly at this same intersection is my destination, a stone, cathedral-like structure. It seems to serve as a marker to a time way before this part of the city looked like it does today. Three bell towers form the street-facing corners of the building. A large set of vertical stained glass windows rest in the middle of the building’s exterior facade.

Two older men are talking casually outside of the entrance as I approach. I passed them, entered, and waited near an usher; watching as a group of 11 people stood in a circle, holding hands and praying. Once they finished, the usher greeted me and handed me a visitor’s welcome packet - a standard-sized white envelope containing a brochure, a pen, and some information about upcoming events.

The meeting hall reminds me of a school library. Four sections of padded chairs were separated by three rows of the building’s support columns. These white columns rose to meet the newly varnished wooden beams which formed squares across the white ceiling.

Along the right wall, wood beams and panels frame the doors and windows of small offices. To the left, an American flag rests on a stand in the corner. Behind the front stage, a small banner announces that this organization was celebrating its 170th year anniversary.

From 1847 to 2017.

Think about that. This organization was founded just 10 years after Chicago was formerly incorporated as a city. People have been assembling as members of this institution since before the Civil War, the bicycle, the radio, and airplanes. I wondered if our generation will be able to start any organization that will still exist in the year 2177.

The journey continues in the South Loop, at the corner of Wabash Avenue and 24th St.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

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Quiet side streets of neatly-kept bungalows and two-story brick flats surround this stretch of Cicero Avenue; one of Chicago’s busiest, most industrial , and – on this morning – pothole ridden thoroughfares.

The front entrance of my destination was bustling with activity as I approached on this warm summer morning. Two mini-buses were parked by the curbside, having recently dropped off people for the event.

The four sets of fiberglass doors remind me of the entrance to a movie theater. A short set of steps leads me into a modern and lively foyer. As I look around, it seems like my initial hunch was right, this building must have been an old-school movie theater in its previous life.

I see two theater-like entrances, with signs Ages 1-4 and Ages K-5 above their respective doorways. To my right, a series of iPads rest on stands for people to register for upcoming events and/or make donations. An alternative rock inspirational song is playing over the speakers in the main auditorium, which is a grand hall.

Midway through the event, a speaker welcomes the audience, and shares a little bit about the history of this gathering. She concluded her remarks by saying, “We pray, and God moves. That is our history.”

The journey continues in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on the northwest side, at the corner of Cicero Avenue and Belmont.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

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The streets are quiet as I turn onto a one-way residential stretch of Washington Blvd. My destination sits at the corner, facing a mix of old and new three-story brick townhomes and greystones along Washington Boulevard and a vacant lot along Albany Avenue. I get out of my car and walk to the curb. A single, empty glass bottle lays on the grass.

Cars are parked in the grass-and-rock lot next to my destination. A group of senior citizens enter the building through a side door next to the large stone stairs at the front entrance. As I stood at the base of the stairs, I glanced to my right to see a pole tied to the trunk of a tree, holding a small fiberglass basketball backboard and rim.

I enter through the glass double doors into the inviting and well-appointed auditorium. Oak benches with blue padded cushions give the main floor the feel of a library. Light colored brick walls frame tall frosted windows, which filter the incoming sunlight.

An eight-person, all-male band led the audience in song as the event began. I think this might be the first time I’ve seen an all-male band on my journey. There were only 100 or so people assembled here this morning, but they seemed comfortable being in this space, and being with each other.

After the singing, a few minutes were dedicated to recognizing audience members who were celebrating birthdays. The entire audience sang Happy Birthday to the handful of people scattered throughout who stood and soaked in the love.

The journey continues in the Garfield Park neighborhood on the west side, at the corner of Washington Blvd. and Albany.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

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Only a few sections of Chicago’s borders transition as seamlessly between the city and one of its neighboring suburbs. If you cross North Avenue on any of the side streets in this neighborhood, you would not notice any difference between the well-maintained lawns, tree-lined streets, and brick single family homes of the city's Galewood neighborhood and those of its border suburb, Oak Park.

Even my destination, with its small stone chapel design, blends in nicely with the neighborhood; facing North Avenue from the Chicago side. I walked through the open wooden double doors at the front entrance. A small group of people were chatting and catching up in the small lobby as I walked by. An older man greeted me and introduced himself.

The inside of the main hall matched its countryside chapel exterior. Small yellow and blue stained glass windows filtered the sunlight shining in. In the back corner, colorful coffee mugs decorated the walls of a coffee stand. The two sections of padded chairs in the hall were flanked on the left side by the tables where people could sit with their coffee or tea, and where young children could sit to draw and color.

Wood panels built in an A-frame structure formed the roof of this small and inviting space. A brick archway formed the backdrop for the front area where a few microphones, a drum set, and a piano seemed to be more than enough for the five-person band who led the audience in song.

I looked around as the audience members joined in the singing. Although there were only a few dozen people assembled here, there was a mix of individuals who appeared to reflect the many walks of life represented in the areas surrounding this building.

The journey continues on the west side, at the corner of North Avenue and Rutherford.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

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It is a hot and humid mid-July morning as I walk east through the neighborhood of Lincoln Park. The main streets are home to clothing boutiques and specialty pastry shops. The quiet, tree-lined side streets are populated with brick townhomes.

The neighborhood ends at the entrance of Lincoln Park, the 1,200-acre expanse along the northern section of the city’s 26 miles of lakefront parkland. At this intersection, the city skyline appears like a picturesque mountain range behind the massive brick structure which is my destination.

Several sets of dark wood double doors with carved mouldings line the street-level entrance. Inside, I can hear the hum of voices as I walk through the chandelier-lit side corridor which wraps around the main auditorium. The corridor’s stately brick arches open into a cavernous hall.

On the main level of this large hall, there are four sections of pull-down wooden seats that remind you of a school auditorium. Overhead, the tiled stone ceiling reminds you of an old European cathedral.

A copper-plated railing marks the balcony that wraps around the oval-shaped auditorium. The balcony seats rise towards the sets of stained glass windows that have filtered the incoming sunlight into an array of yellow, blue, and green.

As the event began, a seven-person band led the audience in song. Behind them, tall and shiny brass organ pipes rose up along the auditorium’s wall and were framed on both sides by large projection screens displaying the songs’ lyrics.

The journey continues in the Old Town neighborhood on the near north side, at the corner of Clark Street and LaSalle.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

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One mile away from Oakwood Beach and the shores of Lake Michigan, in the heart of the historic south side neighborhood of Bronzeville, sits a quiet set of streets directly four and a half miles south of the city’s Magnificient Mile.

On this hot summer morning, I walk through a series of peaceful blocks populated by a scattered collection of stately greystones, older brick two-flats, and newly constructed townhomes. I walk past a beautiful, modern building that is home to a community service organization providing resources and assistance to youth who find themselves homeless.

A few minutes after I arrive in the sunlit lobby of my destination, I discover that the event times have changed. I am one hour early. So I decided to walk the long way back to my car and planned to go get some coffee and wait.

To my pleasant surprise, there was a soul food restaurant open for a brunch just a block away. I took this unexpected detour and enjoyed a nice chicken and waffles breakfast, and made my way back to the event one hour later.

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Inside the main level of the large auditorium, stage lights hanging from the wood-paneled ceiling light up the rows of padded benches. Long vertical wooden slants form the wall behind the stage like a music recording studio.

A TV camera hangs from the end of a large crane-like mechanical arm that extends from the bottom of the right corner of the front stage. On stage, a team of eight singers leads the audience in song, accompanied by a full band and a 30-member choir decked out in white and brown robes.

The journey continues in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the south side, at the corner of 38th Street and Indiana.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

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It’s a warm and sunny summer morning as I board the train headed into the city. The canyoned streets of the Loop are quiet as I walk by the closed office towers, banks, coffee shops, and upscale clothing boutiques.

I pass by the occasional family or small group of tourists, who are taking photos of the surrounding architecture and making their way to visit the skydeck at the Willis (Sears) Tower.

The pace picks up as I exit the’L’ into the River North section of downtown, which is comprised of the blocks that lie behind the city’s famous Magnificent Mile stretch of Michigan Avenue. People are sitting outside of coffee shops, and packing luggage into the back of SUV taxis parked in hotel driveways.

The exterior of my destination looks like a library on an Ivy League campus, or the entrance to a large museum. A quick bit of online research revealed that this building was constructed nearly 100 years ago by a professional organization for surgeons, and was designed in the French renaissance style. Which makes sense. This is exactly the kind of structure one would imagine a group of doctors building one block west of the Mag Mile.
As I took my seat on the main level of the hall, I looked around at the young professionals, college students, and parents of young children assembled. The people here seemed not only to know each other, but to be at the same stage of life.

A nine-person band led the audience in a series of songs, then a few families came to the front stage with their young children to engage in a short ceremony where they publicly declared their commitment to raising their children with Godly values.

Our year-long journey through Chicago's neighborhoods in search of God continues in River North, at the corner of Wabash Avenue and Erie.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

Join the conversation! Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Y94abI and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2z6q5W4