"The character of a third place is determined most of all by its regular clientele and is marked by a playful mood, which contrasts with people's more serious involvement in other spheres. Though a radically different kind of setting for a home, the third place is remarkably similar to a good home in the psychological comfort and support that it extends…They are the heart of a community's social vitality, the grassroots of democracy, but sadly, they constitute a diminishing aspect of the American social landscape." - Ray Oldenburg
If the "third place", by Oldenburg's definition, develops most of its character from regular clientele (not staff/management) then what must the role of the staff/management be if we are to bring people into a higher experience? Can this place, which we desire to see, really be considered a true "third place"? Or, is there another word out there? We do desire to see serious involvement, serious life change, true expression and a raised awareness and Kingdom perspective. However, left to clientele to development the place's character, we are living dangerously. This word, dangerous, is one that we want to experience, but to what extent? What do we do to insure that the values we believe in are infused? This idea of infusing higher values into the DNA of the place and its patrons seems in contradiction with what Oldenburg is preaching. He proclaims that it is to be determined. Is there a need to create a NEW term for what we are trying to develop? I propose a loud "yes!"
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Perhaps...I'm struggling for the reason behind changing the terminology, but I think that is more because over the past two years I have unlearned the language of a pioneer, and developed the language of an early adapter. My prayer is to regain the entrepreneurial enterprise of thinking anew, while using secondary sources to inspire momentum for the journey. I desire to be a pioneer, something that my church experience has aimed to quench.
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