I am a slow composer. Much more often than not I choose to honor inertia instead of overcome it to actually write something. Writing a first word, like taking a first step in a new direction, is a risk. I usually try to figure out most of what I want to communicate before actually beginning to type. Then at least I have some cover or justification for not getting anything done. With this approach I can stay pretty comfortably within recognizable limits, also known as "in the box."
Some of us have laughed at this notion of staying in the box, especially in our journey as a new church. Our punch line is, "There's a box!?" So much of what we do needs to be new, fresh and not bound by what we think of traditonal ministry and organization. I have consistently spoken about the need for us to show up in unusual places and our leaders have created new experiences.
Our first Welcome Center was in a former gun shop and tanning salon, and now we are in a strip mall. We created a CROP Walk on the White Pine Trail and a children's musical at the YMCA. We build and launch rockets, and bake cookies that are delivered on time for St. Patrick's Day. Our vison song, and songs for baptisms and open communion are original compositions from our Music Director, Elsa Pfautsch Halifax. Actually, I really enjoy this flexibility of spirit and practice. A friend sent me a card that now sits on my bookshelf at the Welcome Center that reads, "Do not think in terms of 'on time' or 'late.' Think in terms of flexibility, fluidity, spontaneity." By default or design, I have adopted this as a practice and rhythm in my faith.
Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois, and author of "Just Walk Across the Room," assumes when entering a room or joining a gathering of people that the Holy Spirit is going to do something rather than nothing, so he looks for a way to be part of what God might be up to. One risk of adopting this approach is that we might be mistaken. Our timing might be not be quite right. The willingness to risk, and accept the misses and mistakes that come along with it belong to the adventure of faith.
Risk and mistakes are signs that we are willing to move ahead without fully knowing what the results of our efforts might be. DeWitt Jones is a former photographer for National Geographic magazine. In his video series, "Everyday Creativity," he shares that it takes 400 rolls of film to get the 30 pictures that are used in a feature article. You can't be thinking about making mistakes when you are composing a story.
As followers of Christ we need to be less concerned with doing things right and more concerned with reaching out in love, looking for what God may be up to in our life and the life of White Pines UMC, and being willing to venture in that direction. Steve Leipprandt, our "Dads of Destiny" leader, spoke in a recent worship service that one of his main insights from the Dads class is that God qualifies the Called, not the other way around. God does not call those who are already qualified, but transforms and equips the people who stand up, speak out, take a first step, or write a first word. God qualifies for ministry those persons who accept the divine offer of life and love through Jesus Christ. Sometimes all we can do in the face of such wonder is laugh and feel a little bit better about not finding any boxes. Thanks for sharing such an outlandish journey of faith.
Pastor Jeff
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