Thrivent cafeteria. Minneapolis City Hall in background.

I took a trip today that reminded me of something important about traveling. The pleasure of journeying serendipity doesn’t have to involve travel agents and heavy baggage. My trek today was less than a mile and a half from home.

Johnny and I went for our usual day-off lunch date. This time he took me to the cafeteria in the Thrivent Financial building (formerly Lutheran Brotherhood) in downtown Minneapolis, because he had read that there was a exhibit of Creches right now.

In display cases in the public areas of  the ground floor and 2nd floor we found dozens of nativity scenes from many countries of the world. As you can imagine, my heart resonated with these scenes, such a wonderful demonstration that Jesus is the Lord of all the earth.

What we hadn’t realized is this:  Tucked away on the 2nd floor is the Thrivent Collection of Religious Art , next to the information desk at the top of the escalator. The receptionist hands you a key card to enter the gallery, which consists of a hallway and a medium-sized room. A smallish gallery, but a gem. The art is not what you might expect in a downtown office building–centuries-old etchings, pen-and-ink drawings, and engravings, including some by Rembrandt and Durer.

The exhibit changes monthly, so I foresee some more day-off lunch-and-browses. Not a bad monthly opportunity for free home school field trips either.

During December, the exhibit The Nativity, about the birth and early life of Jesus. So if you’re visiting the Twin Cities or if you want to venture into the city or down the street, there’s a treasure waiting.

Question for you: What’s “hiding” in your hometown that people would love to know about?

"Freedom of a Christian Man" -- entryway of Thrivent Financial Building--Highlights from Martin Luther's life

Thrivent Financial
625 Fourth Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55425
612 844 8072
Monday-Friday, 9:30-4:30