I spent the evening visiting my good friend, Nate Robinson, in amazing downtown Chicago. Home of da bulls, da bears, and ever merciful coach Ditka. Nate had parked and stood out on the corner guiding me in one block at a time. I finally turned on Ontario St and saw Nate two blocks away. Dressed for business, owning the corner, in a crowd, and smiling that million dollar grin that makes you smile back whether you want to or not. Know how long it's been since I've seen Nate? Too long.
If you ever drive downtown Chicago, you'll swear that someone is shooting a movie and just yelled action right before you drove directly into the scene. Only nobody says "Cut" and you continue to drive down Michigan Ave gawking at the sights and listening to the thickness of the sound trapped and bouncing off the buildings with noplace to go but into your ears. It's an onslaught of sights, sound, smells. A literal sensory tsunami. Around the corner from the Apple store with it's brushed aluminum and glowing plexiglass stairs, in stark contrast to the industrial clean room that is Mac Mecca, is a pizza joint known as Pizzaria Due. No less cool, this place embodies old Chicago. It is the Apple store of the 30's and the deep dish is the ingesible ipod. Simply put, there is no equal. It's the best pizza in town. Agnes, the waitress, told me so. I believe her though. She looks like she's carried a few pies in her day and, though past her prime, is still passionate about pizza. Nate and I ordered the deep dish with the works and she sucked wind through pursed lips, like people do when they see a Rembrandt for the first time. Why do I believe her? Because after all those years of watching people ingest slice after slice, she still finds passion in the appetitie of others. I find passion in the appetite of Nate for the things of God. It certainly helps my perspective. You want to get excited about what matters most again? Get around those who are and let them give your jaded perspective a shot of clarity and health. If Agnes can stay passionate about pizza, I can stay passionate about Jesus Christ. Amen