Listening insight for the day: Im frustrated. Frustrated about all the challenges of church in the 21st century, and struggles with change and resistance, and how to lead a congregation and be part of a denomination that is slowly declining and is mortally afraid to adapt and chart a new course. Its nothing new, for myself or my colleagues, and its not overwhelming or debilitating by any stretch of the imagination. But some days - like today - the frustration is undeniably there. My insight is this: I (we) need to live in this frustration, to swim in it, to marinate in it for a while. We dont need to resolve it right away or come to some sort of Zen-like peace with the contradictions of the situation. We need to stay firmly engaged in the tensions and the struggles, for it is from this frustration - and not from swallowing it or ignoring it or falsely resolving it - but it is through the frustration itself that the way forward will emerge. For me, perhaps this path will be revealed by a summer of prayer and listening, as Ive been hoping. But maybe this frustration needs to simmer for years or even decades, before it will give birth to a Pentecost-like renewal of faith and mission for myself and for the church. Either way, it is time to embrace - not resist - the frustration and all it brings.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 21:39:25 +0000
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