I love this one. I love that you can relate to the retirement “struggle” and the patience to stay with it. I love the reminder to do what I can do and allow people to see Jesus.
I think you did WORK on trying to get people and congregations that are stuck to think beyond filling the pews. LISTENING and UNDERSTANDING are necessary for ACTING. Why didn't they DO those things? Because they were afraid of losing their comfortable pew spot among comfortably familiar faces doing comfortable routine actions. Congregations have more power over movement than the pastor, but the pastor becomes the target when there is no movement.
I read an article recently about the how the EGO, the "I" has taken over. "I want what I want" vs. the "We" as in "we are in this together...all of humanity." Jesus, Buddha, the biggies all promote WE over I. Jesus meant it when he said, "If you want to follow me, you have to die" (gasp). As an individual that means my life means squat if my neighbor is in need. As a congregation, that means saying "this seems like the action that Christ's love is calling for. It will not fill pews. It may well empty them. Let's do it because it is not about our congregation's EGO but the mess WE are in together. There are always those who take a good plan and engage circle-thinking. "If we do this bold, risky, expensive thing, it will help people. The community will see how good we are. Our pews will fill up." Very frustrating. However, what have WE got to lose? This generation needs OUR courage now, OUR willingness to die like seed thrown on the future's soil.
I can’t wait to wonder what I will DO in retirement. Tentative date-573 days from now! Very thought provoking!
I love this one. I love that you can relate to the retirement “struggle” and the patience to stay with it. I love the reminder to do what I can do and allow people to see Jesus.
I think you did WORK on trying to get people and congregations that are stuck to think beyond filling the pews. LISTENING and UNDERSTANDING are necessary for ACTING. Why didn't they DO those things? Because they were afraid of losing their comfortable pew spot among comfortably familiar faces doing comfortable routine actions. Congregations have more power over movement than the pastor, but the pastor becomes the target when there is no movement.
I read an article recently about the how the EGO, the "I" has taken over. "I want what I want" vs. the "We" as in "we are in this together...all of humanity." Jesus, Buddha, the biggies all promote WE over I. Jesus meant it when he said, "If you want to follow me, you have to die" (gasp). As an individual that means my life means squat if my neighbor is in need. As a congregation, that means saying "this seems like the action that Christ's love is calling for. It will not fill pews. It may well empty them. Let's do it because it is not about our congregation's EGO but the mess WE are in together. There are always those who take a good plan and engage circle-thinking. "If we do this bold, risky, expensive thing, it will help people. The community will see how good we are. Our pews will fill up." Very frustrating. However, what have WE got to lose? This generation needs OUR courage now, OUR willingness to die like seed thrown on the future's soil.
Deb’s friend of mine hosts a FaceBook page called The Joyful Crone with a focus is on woman and joyful aging. Could I share this?
Absolutely, always free to share from my end!
You are a wise woman, Deb!