REBLOG: Aesthetics

Aesthetics

By Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor of National Community Church

Washington DC

I was reading the latest issue of Fast Company and came across an article that inspired me. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide are known for their extraordinary customer service. upscale hotels. Here are some of the ways they serve their guests and create a unique hotel experience.

They recently hired French Composer, Henri Scars Struck, to orchestrate a 24-hour soundtrack for their hotels so that their guests would be greeted by a melange of sounds. Sorry, couldn't resist using the word melange. Don't really know what it means or how to pronounce it. But I like it.

Their goal is to catch customers off guard. They want to surprise them. They actually hired a cultural curator whose job description is "to create unique experiences for the guest that stimulate all five senses."

One way they do that is with limited-edition key cards designed by artists such as Michael Lin and Sam Samore. The key cards double as free passes to a local art institution. Guests also get a complimentary copy of adult fairy tale book as a take-home souvenir. By the way, all employees from desk clerks to housekeepers are required to visit the art institution they send people to and familiarize themselves with the variety of artists partnering with Starwood.

Starwood has partnered with a perfume design team to create a unique scent for their lobby. And they have partnered with master chefs to create a unique menu.

Listen, that may sound extravagant. But what if we put half that effort in welcoming people into our worship environments? What I'm trying to say is this: aesthetics are important. If you don't believe me, then why are a dozen chapters in Exodus devoted to the aesthetics of the tabernacle. God is in the details. He details everything from the color of the curtains to the recipe for the incense!

I'm always trying to find ways to rethink everything we do at NCC. Articles like this help my synapses fire in new ways. Are we doing everything we can to create an optimal environment for worship and fellowship?