Mission Initiative # 1

The following post comes from Dorothy Burdette, co-pastor of Wiarton Community of Christ. It is a wonderfully encouraging report.

Carman

We (Wiarton congregation) had just selected “Invitation” as our mission initiative when I read the Good News report outlining the success Bridges St. congregation had with a community dinner. (You can find one of those reports by clicking here.) I thought there was a great opportunity in the Easter season, so in a week, we put together the plans. The following is the result.

The Wiarton congregation embarked on their Mission # 1 initiative; Invitation, by inviting friends to a special Easter breakfast before the Easter worship service. We planned a simple meal so that we could eat with our “guests”. Fruit cocktail, fruit plate,homemade quiche, homemade hot cross buns, fruit bread and cinnamon buns made a tasty menu.

Our average attendance is about 22 people. Easter Sunday we had 52 (every seat filled) in the basement for our breakfast, and 65 for the following worship service (every seat filled except open front pews). Eight children filled our small nursery. It was evident that our guests enjoyed the breakfast, fellowship and worship service and we were thrilled with the response. How blessed we were in this, our first endeavor. God’s promises are sure. HE goes before us and prepares the way. Alleluia!

Co pastor, Dorothy Burdette

Thank you Dorothy and the faithful folks of Wiarton. I love you guys!

Every great idea always requires follow-up, and this one is no exception. Stay tuned to What's the Good Word later this week if you would like to read my response to Dorothy's good news letter. It may have some ideas for you as well.

Carman

Ready

The last article in the March Herald is a testimony by Apostle Andrew Bolton entitled Why I Follow Jesus. In this one-page story, Andrew seeks to distill his experience down to the simplest truth, and ends with the following conclusion.

Why do I follow Jesus? The ones who have loved me the most have been followers of Jesus. Zion is the mission of Jesus. I encountered the reality of the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Jesus.

You can also see and hear Apostle Bolton share his response to this question by clicking here. (Click on the 2011 tab, then on "Witness the Word Apostolic Testimony".)

Apostle Bolton's story has me thinking; how would I answer the same question? I could mention several elements: the people who loved and encouraged me as a child, the spiritual leaders I met at youth camps, the patience of congregation members who loved me even when I was an angry youth and behaving in an unlovable way. Yet, the greatest truth and most important reason I follow Jesus is because of an unexpected encounter with the Holy Spirit I experienced when I was eighteen years old. That unseen Presence asked me to give my heart, my very life, and I promised to do so. It is a promise I am still learning how to keep, but from that moment to this, life has been a remarkable journey.

How about you? How would you answer the question? Why do you follow Jesus? If a friend asked you that question, what would you say? Have you thought about it? 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us to, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (NIV)

At a recent Seventy and Friends retreat, Kris Judd challenged us to respond with the essence of our answer in one minute or less. We need not share all the details, in fact it is probably better if we don’t, since that give people the chance to inquire further. And yet we should be ready to “give a reason for the hope we have” as 1 Peter counsels.

So are you ready? Why do you follow Jesus?

Posted by Carman

Invisibility

First came J. K. Rowling and the Harry Potter novels with the famous Invisibility Cloak. Now comes news that various scientists are actually working on such a device, and while the product is not yet usable, they have achieved some early success. Of course the initial applications are likely to be military, but eventually the product will probably make its way to people like you and me. Of course, why we might want to be invisible is a question for which I have absolutely no good answer!

If all that wasn’t enough to make a person wonder, I then came across this quote in the website for The New Media Project at Union Theological Seminary.

Today, a church without a website is as invisible as a church without a yellow pages listing was 20 years ago.

Now that really got my attention! I began to think about the fact that probably two years ago we made web pages available to every congregation in CEM for free. We included basic information such as the name of the pastor and her/his contact information plus the times of services or activities. We then invited congregations to put someone in charge of keeping the information current, add pictures, tell about planned activities, etc.

Now, I don’t want to point fingers or paint everyone with the same brush because some congregations have done a great job with this, but others of those pages haven’t changed since the day they were born! Some don't have a picture of the church and no information beyond service times, and I have to wonder if even those are current. (If you want to check your congregation’s page, go to CEM Community of Christ Congregations, then click on the name of your community.)

All that has me wondering about this invisibility thing. Is it possible that we want to remain invisible? Would we prefer to continue to do business as usual and not tell our surrounding neighbours about it? Do we not want anyone to know when and where we meet, what our activities are, etc? Or is all that internet stuff just too technical for some of our congregations?

If your congregation would like to stop being invisible, there is a wonderful solution. James Clark has offered to help any congregation in Canada East Mission become more visible. He will help by updating your web page, create a facebook and twitter account for your congregation, help you create an email newsletter, and even teach you how easy it all is. Your congregation does not have to remain invisible any longer. Who knows but the people in the houses on your street might actually be trying to check you out!

If you would like to see an example of James’ work, you can take a look at Wiarton Congregation's Webpage. While you are there, why not subscribe to thier email newslatter and click on the link to their facebook page? After that, why not email James at jamesweclark@gmail.com and get help for your congregation?

Oh, and then please, get rid of that silly invisibility cloak!

Posted by Carman

Gobble Gobble

Today, Monday, is Thanksgiving day but most of you will probably not see this until Tuesday. That is okay, I am actually preparing the post on Sunday, and only anticipating that it will be Monday or Tuesday. (If that confuses you, just wait until you figure out that most of it was actually written a year ago!)

I confess that I am wondering how many people will not have family or friends to celebrate Thanksgiving with this year. Is there someone I personally know who will be alone, and as my friend Bryce Taylor would say, living on "tea and toast"? Our home will be full of family and friends, but there is always room for one more, and they would be most welcome. I suspect you feel the same.

On a personal note, a year ago one member of our extended family who serves in the Canadian Forces had Thanksgiving in Afghanistan. This year he is home, and we are very grateful. Still, many are not. Lets spare a thought or a prayer for them today.

What follows is the post from October 12, 2010, which was the day after Canadian Thanksgiving last year. When I looked back, I rather enjoyed reading it again, and The Gobble Song still makes me smile. I hope you enjoy it too.

Happy Thanksgiving, or if this is Tuesday, Happy Thanksgiving plus one.

*******************************************************************************
Definition:
1. The gurgling sound made by a male turkey.
2. To devour in greedy gulps.

Canadian Thanksgiving is over. The hours of stuffing and cooking the turkey, making the cranberry sauce, peeling the potatoes and turnip, baking the pumpkin pies and whipping the cream are done. The meal has been eaten and the family has left for home. The house that bulged with the sounds of eighteen people talking and playing is now strangely quiet. The only sounds are the keys on my computer and the quiet splash of the dishwasher doing the last load of dishes for the evening. Ah bliss!

Despite good intentions about not overeating, my waistband feels a little snug at the moment. It must have been the fact that there were four different desserts on offer, and I knew I would be asked my opinion on at least three of them! I am happy to report that regular pumpkin pie with a healthy dose of spice and a dollop of whipped cream is still far superior to cream-cheese pumpkin pie. I can further opine that apple crisp made without wheat flour should only be eaten by people who are wheat intolerant. They will be very thankful for a dessert they can safely eat. The rest of us should stick to regular apple crisp!

All in all, today was a good day at our house. We have greeted each other, talked, laughed, eaten, enjoyed the children, and even celebrated three October birthdays while we were at it. Now we have sent everyone safely on their way home to bed. No better day than that!

Now, so that we don’t forget how and what we gobbled too soon, click on the following link for a very cute You Tube video called The Gobble Song.

Dust-Jacket

I have recently read a lovely book from Marion’s steadily diminishing library entitled Feed My Shepherds. The book, written by Flora Slossan Wuellner, explores the reasons why burnout is so common in ministers, suggests some ways to prevent this from happening, cope when you are in the throes of it, and ultimately heal. The author’s wisdom is well earned, having grown out of her own experience with the subject.

While I recommend the title highly, especially if you are experiencing spiritual or emotional fatigue, it is the book’s cover that I am thinking about this morning. The paper wrapper or “dust jacket” as it is known in the industry displays a picture of a very pastoral scene; a small stream moving past the gnarled roots and trunk of an old, moss covered tree. The stream brings life-sustaining moisture and nourishment in what otherwise might appear to be a barren and rocky place. It is a lovely image.

I had adopted this delightful little book as part of my personal quiet time, reading a few pages or a chapter each morning for a couple of weeks. I had not thought much about the image or the cover until one morning when I happened to peal the jacket back to reveal the rather plain, imageless hard-cover book underneath. I realized then what a difference the cover made. It was the picture on the cover that caught my attention, intriguing me as a potential reader, suggesting the life-giving nourishment contained in the book’s interior. Without that dust jacket, it would have been just some paper elements with no suggestion of the rich message contained inside.

Reflecting on that this morning, it occurs to me that this is not unlike our everyday experience in human life; one we probably do not spend much time thinking about. The various elements of the package we display outwardly to the world convey messages to those we encounter in our daily lives. For instance, a smile may suggest we are a pleasant, happy person that someone might enjoy talking to. A frown may suggest preoccupation or problems, conveying the impression that we may not be open to conversation. A scowl might simply say, “Keep away, I’m busy or annoyed or frustrated at the moment!” A smile in the midst of scars may convey a life that has learned to cope with life’s hard knocks.

I am not in any way suggesting here that we wear a false front or try to create an impression that is not true. If we are to be honest and authentic, the package we present to the world will grow out of our everyday life experience. It is the way we choose to deal with that experience, however, that shows in our countenance. Do we convey the image of a gnarled and rocky spiritual landscape, one that is hostile and uninviting? Or does our image suggest that our life experience, whether difficult or easy, is being nourished by the life enriching stream of God’s generous grace? Does the personal dust-jacket we wear suggest that we have a positive and wonderful message we are happy to share with others? Or do we convey a closed or hostile image? The jacket we wear may well make all the difference in determining whether or not we get to share the Peace of Jesus Christ with someone today.

May your personal dust jacket reflect life and grace today, both for you and those whose lives you touch.

Posted by Carman

bloggers

I had a note from one of my sisters the other day. Her email contained the disappointing news that she is not able to come for a visit, but it also held a delightful surprise. My sister shared a link to some writing she has been doing on a blog of her own. I read her posts, and was totally delighted. It was enough to make me feel a sense of instant connection. I had a glimpse into her distant life, her relationship with her now grown children and even her dogs. It was wonderful and made me want more.

That lovely surprise got me thinking about you, and made me wonder how many of you are writing. It occurred to me that, of all the blog links we have on the lower left of this page, only one is written by a reader and follower; our delightful Tomato Transplants. Surely that is just not right! While we do not know exactly how many there are who follow these pages, we know there are more than a few hundred who check in with some regularity. It seems highly unlikely, therefore, that there is only one writer in the whole bunch!

Are there other bloggers out there that we don’t know about? Come on now, fess up! Are you writing and not sharing? This need not be a one-way conversation you know. If you are writing, will you not share with the rest of us?

If you are writing and willing to share (and I can’t think of a reason you would write a blog unless you were), would you please send us the link? You can do it privately if you wish, but we would be delighted to read your poetic verse or prose. And just in case you are shy, I promise we will not publically add you to the list of blogs we follow unless you give us permission.

So how about it; are you writing and willing to share with the rest of us? After all, enquiring minds want to know! Lets make this more than a one way connection, okay?

Posted by Carman

Devotion

On the first weekend of June, a group of Evangelists gathered from across CEM to spend a weekend with Presiding Evangelist David Brock. A few spouses joined them and two younger couples who came to provide ministry, plus support with KP. In all, 21 people gathered together. It was a good weekend. As the weekend progressed, something began to tug at the edges of my consciousness. It was not until the retreat was over that I was able to put my finger on what it was.

The order of Evangelists is made of up mature ministers who have the earned wisdom and experience to reflect God’s grace to others as ministers of blessing. Most of the group that gathered has reached retirement age, some recently through retiring early, and some many years ago. Most people look forward to the retirement years with an eye to taking things a little easier. Perhaps we hope to spend more time with family, or on a beach somewhere. Perhaps we want to travel, have stacks of books we plan to read, or boxes of photos we hope to label and organize. Sometimes we hear people suggesting that they have done their part, and now it is time to sit back and relax, perhaps a little like Jesus’ parable of the barns in Luke 12.

I heard no such comments this weekend; not once. Oh there were questions asked, or statements made about possible superannuation, but not so those considering the possibility could take life easier. The few such comments that were made were always in tandem with questions about the capacity of the minister to continue to offer high quality ministry in their advancing years. “Do I have the stamina to be able to offer people the support they need? Is my memory or ability to think clearly still acute enough to do my job well? Is my ministry still current in relation to the age in which we live?”

To be clear, we all like to sit on the beach some times, and there is nothing wrong with that. Several of the Evangelists who gathered this weekend spend at least some time in Florida during the winter. But even there they seem to have been offering ministry in the places where they were. Further, from the constant stream of emails I saw, many of them used that time to firm up their plans for ministry when they got home. It is refreshing to be with a group of ministers with such devotion to God, the church, the people they serve. It is inspiring. They truly are ministers of blessing.

This post is in honour of the dedicated women and men who lovingly watch over the church, always looking for an opportunity to be a blessing to others. God’s Spirit graced our gathering this weekend. Your love and devotion ensured it would be so. May you continue to be blessed in the ministry you offer to all God's children.

Posted by Carman

Footprints

An early walk on the rain soaked ground has me thinking about footprints this morning. Over the past twenty years, we have each become familiar with the concept of our environmental or ecological footprint. This is a scientific term used to measure the impact of human demand on the earth’s ecosystems. Using methods that have been developed, scientists can compare consumption of resources and resulting pollution with the earth’s ability to regenerate. It was estimated that in 2006, consumption exceeded the earth’s regeneration capacity by 40%. Clearly this has a devastating impact on the quality of such basic and essential elements as air and water.

There are even computerized tools available to let you calculate your own ecological footprint, should you be brave enough to want to know your personal impact on the planet. You can find one such website by clicking here. It all reminds me of a poster I first saw in the 1980s which said

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.

In more recent years, some augment this slogan to read,

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.

My morning musings on footprints are not confined to our environmental impact, however. While we have ecological calculators, I know of no method, scientific or otherwise, to measure our spiritual footprint. Am I contributing to the spiritual well-being of the earth or are we detracting from it? I wonder how one would know.

Isaiah 52:7 says

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

Are we working for peace? Are we contributing to and sharing good news with the world? Do we help people understand their spiritual connection to the Devine? Are we contributing to the spiritual well-being of those with whom we share the planet or do we merely suck up spiritual energy for our own personal consumption?

As I ask myself these questions this morning, on a strictly personal level I am not sure I am comfortable with the spiritual footprints I am leaving behind.

Posted by Carman

Seekers

One Sunday evening some years ago, I was a visitor at a certain church in a town near where I lived. I had heard good things about this church. In fact one of my (then) teenage sons had been there and said he liked it. I recognized the possibility that my son’s “liking” for church might relate more to a certain red-haired girl in whom he had a passing interest than it did to the church experience, but for him to like church for any reason was unusual enough to get my attention. Consequently I decided to go and check it out myself. It was all good and I learned a few things, but one incident in particular has stayed with me.

Whether it was because he noticed the presence of this stranger (me) in the crowd or for other reasons entirely, the Pastor chose that evening to put out an invitation to those who might be seekers, inviting them to come have a visit with him. In fact, I think he said he was thinking of starting a seekers class. What was in his mind I am not sure, but my perception of this invitation was, “If you have questions, come and I will do my best to give you the answers.” I don’t think many pastors would knowingly send that message today.

A few years ago it was popular to use the word “seekers” to describe people within any given population who were thought to be seeking God or needing a church. The thinking was, if a church could just find more seekers and give them our answers, the church would grow and everything would be fine. It didn’t generally work out that way. Either we weren’t very good at ‘seeking seekers’, or the entire model was faulty.

Since that time I, at least, have come to recognize that there appears to be a greater truth involved in this word. We are all seekers! Every one of us, at least at some point in our life, is seeking after a greater understanding of, or a relationship with, God. I don’t know one single person who has it all figured out. Over the years I have met a few who claimed to know all the answers, but somehow their answers never seemed to work for everyone else.

Recognizing this fact makes a big difference in how I might choose to think of or use that word. We are all seekers. Not one of us knows all the answers. There is no divide between seekers and ministers, the churched and the unchurched, or even those who are knowledgeable about the Bible and those who are total novices. We are all on the same playing field here, although some may have been playing at it longer. Even if you have never tried to pray in your life, your prayers seeking answers are just as important as the next person. Consequently, if I were thinking of starting a seekers class, it would not be to invite a bunch of people who didn’t know God so I could give them all the answers, it would be for me and anyone else who wanted to join so we could discuss the questions together.

There are times when a class to teach information is just what is needed, such as a class for those seeking baptism, or a Good Sense class for those who need financial information. But when it comes to developing a stronger relationship with God, lets admit that we are all seekers, and simply share our journey together.

Posted by Carman

Fiction

Last week I went back for the first time in a couple of years to my writing class. I believe I shared here with you that I had decided I needed to inject a little more discipline into my life and that registering for an actual class would do that for me. As in years past the evenings I have available have lots more to do with which topic I pursue than any other great desire to learn this or that or to practise one skill over another. So this year it was Thursday that was available, so fiction it is!

Of course the first evening there is the predictable go-round when each person shares why they’ve elected to learn more about (in this case) writing fiction and I share that I have been thrust into this class because it’s Thursday and I can actually complete the whole series and only miss a single class. Ergo: fiction it is!

Given all that background, however, I am really quite pleased to be spending the next twelve weeks considering, reading, thinking about, discussing and even writing some fiction.

I recall once listening to a panel of writers discussing the merits of fiction vs. non-fiction. I believe it was Ray Robertson who claimed to have given up the writing of non-fiction because he realized he had only limited time left to write anything and since he wanted only to write “Truth” he would only write fiction for the rest of his life. After much chuckling, the rest of the panelists all agreed with him that “truth” was a much closer synonym for “real fiction” than anything else they could think of. If I’m into the discipline of fiction, I really have to agree with them.

My reading practices over my lifetime have not been entirely consistent. During some times I’ve read mostly fiction; at other times—usually prescribed by study—I’ve focused more on various types of non-fiction. I realize that it’s easy to fall into a reading habit that takes me into a particular genre at the expense of other areas I don’t really want to neglect. And reading good fiction is one of those types of reading not to be neglected. I think the reason I appreciate it so much is the very fact that it tends to bring those deep truths to mind that those writers were alluding to. Truths about love and relationships, about life and the complexities of living, solving problems, setting priorities, articulating values somehow find their way into and out of works of fiction.

Another writer suggests that reading fiction tends to make her more empathic and compassionate and cites a study to that effect. I agree this too is a noble goal.

Those of you reading this blog are well aware that I write lots of words, some of them you’ve read—and many more you haven’t. Over the next twelve weeks I shall be spending some disciplined time thinking about, and perhaps writing some fiction. I suspect there will be fallout of this practice showing up in this blog.

If you’d like to share your own experience with reading or writing fiction or if you have thoughts as to how truth is or is not expressed in what you’re reading, I’d love to have you join me in my quest.

Posted by Marion

Dinner

A new book has just come out and the author is making the rounds of the radio interview shows called The Family Dinner: Great Ways To Connect With Your Kids, One Meal At A Time

The premise is pretty simple, maybe not easy, that families pass on their values and connect with each other around the dinner table. Not just once in awhile, but every day. I got to thinking about this notion. I remembered my childhood dinner table where I sat at the end, with my back to the north. On my left, the east side sat my two sisters and my left-handed brother (on the corner so he didn’t bump elbows with anyone) and on my right, the west side, sat my other brother and my dad. My mother faced me from the south end so she could get up and down easily and do all the things she needed to do; she was always doing something! My mother was the “doer” while my dad was the “talker.”

I include the directions because it was at that table that I learned those directions and for years I imagined myself at the table when I had to get my bearings as to north/south/east/west. I could share other things I learned at that table, picking up as I did, all kinds of information on weather lore, crop rotation, economics, local history, all from my dad. I might also have learned that dad’s word was truth and that mother’s job was to serve the family, because at that table it was so.

We often speak of our congregations’ love of potlucks. (The potluck is sometimes called the ninth sacrament.) Most of us can tell a story about how our church family does potluck. As one who has the amazing opportunity to share at many congregational family tables I have observed many things about how those “families” function. Most have a system of getting the food out and organized—hot, cold, salads, desserts. Sometimes the dessert stays hidden until the first course is cleared away. Others pile everything out and let you eat in whatever order you choose. In some places the children go first; in others it’s the guest. Some places have pretty much the same menu every time; others really mix it up or announce “theme meals” and try new or ethnic dishes.

What are the values lessons we pick up around this family table? Who sits where? Who makes the "rules" and who does the work? How are the tasks shared? Is conversation happening? Do families sit together or do you mix it up? What do our potlucks say about us as a church family? Is this a healthy congregation that gathers in the spirit of hospitality, welcoming all and sharing concern about serving others as well as ourselves?

What do you think? Have you ever thought about what your potluck practices might say about you the people and ideas you hold most dear?

Posted by Marion

Keeper

I’ve just read an essay about how the Chronicles of Narnia shaped the writer’s life! After the Bible, says pastor Julie Clawson this work was the most formative in her developing character and theology. Narnia was never part of my literary life, either in childhood or adulthood, although my children and grandchildren claim ownership of this C.S.Lewis classic.

As Christmas approaches and some of us are seeking out that keeper book to give to the readers on our gift list, perhaps we, like Clawson, are recalling some of the books that brought meaning to our own lives, and would be likely gifts to give to a learning to read child (maybe Charlotte’s Web? Or Stuart Little?). Who is ready to meet the Hobbits for the first time? Or maybe Black Beauty, or Treasure Island or the Robinsons (Crusoe, or the Swiss family)?

My reading grandchildren are great library users, but sometimes there are some books that you just need to own for yourself, to keep and be able to read again, or at least to let them live on your very own bookshelf. For example, I see those colourful volumes of Harry Potter everywhere! Those are the ones I try to figure out and find for them.

You’ll not be surprised to learn that two of the authors I favoured as a child were Louisa May Alcott and her writing heroine “Jo March” and L.M. Montgomery’s Anne (with an “e”) Shirley, also a scribbler. The latter even more appreciated because of her Canadian roots and the rural context I could recognize. That row of dull green covers still sits in a place of honour on my own top shelf. I’ve only recently read Jane Urquart’s short but revealing biography of Montgomery and have developed an even greater appreciation for this writer and the literary value of her work. (Check it out here .) I think I'll be pulling one or more of those dear volumes down to re-read over my Christmas holiday.

So my question for the day is not: what are you reading now? But what book or books shaped your life? What are the keepers for you? And if you want to be very generous, share a line or two about why a particular book has been important in your life.

Posted by Marion

Solutions

Here is a link to a "golden oldie"-- that is, a blog post from a year ago!

I've noticed how many of you have been inspired this week to share stories of what YOUR congregation is doing to be a solution for someone: needy families, third world children, kids with cold hands and folks who just need some extra spaghetti in the pantry.

And I was reminded of that year-old blog post suggesting that we not toss ALL the requests for help that come our way at this Christmas season. For some of them, we can actually be part of the solution! Keep your stories coming. Post in the Comments. We love to read what you're up to.

Bless you for your generosity.

Posted by Marion

Beans

On days when I go for my early morning walk in the country near the village where I live, I pass several fields of beans. This time of year, the leaves on the beanstalks are turning yellow and falling off as the crop ripens, and one can easily see the pods of beans hanging below them on the stock. One morning I got to wondering, “How many beans grow on each stock? My curiosity got the better of me, or perhaps I just have OCD tendencies, and I had to stop and count.

It turns out (according to my unscientific experiment) that in this field, there are an average of 30 or more pods on each stock. For the sake of easy calculation, lets say there are 33. It also appears that each pod contains three beans, which means that each bean planted produced about 100 beans. Not bad!

What does 100 beans look like? How much is that? Not much! If you go to the pantry, find the bag of dried beans and count them out, you can easily hold 100 beans in the palm of your hand. It is perhaps 1/8 cup. If you cooked them, it wouldn’t even make a meal for one.

Well then, how many beans does the farmer plant in a square foot? The answer appears to be roughly 10. That means he gets about 1,000 beans per square foot. What does that look like? Well, you would now have a little more than a cup of beans, so if you cooked them, at least you would have enough for a meal, however that is still not worth the trouble is it? Our farmer had better plant by the acre, not by the square foot.

Well how many beans would a farmer plant in an acre? It turns out to be roughly 200,000, and his yield might be roughly 50 bushels per acre in Ontario. (No, I have absolutely no idea how many beans there are in a bushel!) A 10 acre field would therefore produce around 500 bushels of beans. The farmer could eat all he wanted, have lots to sell or share with others, and even some to keep for planting again next year. (Yes, I know he buys fresh seed each year, but don’t ruin the illustration, alright? We have a story going here.) Life is good!

But what if the farmer had said, “I have 200,000 beans; that’s enough to keep me eating beans all year, I don’t think I’ll bother planting any this year”? What if he said, “I am alright, and to heck with everybody else”? The farmer would be fine, but nobody else would have the benefit of his beans to feed themselves or their families. Sad day.

What kind of beans are you planting? How many do we plant? Do we plant by the individual seed, by the square foot, or by the acre? Whatever beans we have, do we have lots to share with others, or do we keep them all to ourselves? Think about it.

Posted by Carman

Blessed

In a New York Minute, Everything Can Change. – The Eagles

Last week several of us had a powerful reminder of just how quickly things can change. A car accident happened on one of our camp grounds, leaving a vehicle laying upside down in a ditch. All of the occupants crawled out, and while there were many scrapes and bruises, we quickly realized how blessed we were that no one was killed. We knew it could easily have been otherwise, and many prayers of gratitude were offered that night and in the days that followed.

The risk of sudden change was also brought home to me by the news stories of several children drowning in Ontario swimming pools. For the parents and families of those children, everything suddenly changed, and the world would never be the same again. While I did not know any of those who lost their lives, or their families, I had a very fresh picture in my mind of about 90 people happily swimming and playing in the brand new swimming pool at Ziontario. Each one had a great time, and thanks in part to the vigilance of the lifeguards, no accident occurred. Praise God!

In reflecting on these incidents, I thought of all the hours of work that went into getting ready for the reunion. First there was the careful planning by the reunion staff and the hours and hours of preparation. Second there were the months of hard work by the Ziontario board and others to build a pool and have it ready on time, plus make other improvements to the facilities. Third there were the many prayers that were offered for the blessing of that community.

All of this could not anticipate or avert a quick sequence of events or a series of spontaneous decisions that almost led to tragedy. Some things just can’t be planned for. Some events cannot be foreseen. Despite our best efforts, mistakes will still be made.

And yet, person after person on the grounds the next morning told me, “We were blessed; we were blessed.” And we were blessed. A crumpled van can be replaced; a person cannot.

As I reflect on this, I realize how important every aspect of this story is. It is important to plan and prepare. It is important to build and improve. And perhaps most important of all, it is important to pray. So let us continue to make careful preparations and plans, but let us also continue to pray. And when we know ourselves to be blessed, let us offer our prayers of gratitude. And when the event is over and the blessing counted, let us share that sacred story with others.

Posted by Carman

Sacred

I was privileged to enjoy a day visit to a reunion, arriving in time for the morning sharing service. The theme being discussed was “We share the Sacred Story.” I listened as several people shared how much the reunion community meant to them, and how the story of the grounds had become sacred in their experience. Perhaps surprisingly, as the conversation continued in that vein, I found myself growing somewhat uneasy.

It was not that there was anything wrong with what was being shared; in fact the stories were both touching and wonderful. What was scratching at the door of my consciousness, however, was a fear that we might grow to think that this is the place where the sacred story happens. To be more precise, I would not want us to think that this is the only place where the sacred story happens.

In that context, I began to let my mind wander and think of other places; other stories. I thought of our Montreal congregation with their passionate and joyful music and deep prayer life. I thought of that community gathering resources to share with our Haitian brothers and sisters who are so desperately in need following the earthquakes. I know both these places and all of these people to be sacred.

I thought of the little team of dedicated disciples who serve others through Sionito Development Corporation. I thought of the lives they touch: some the elderly poor, some persons who are physically challenged, and others who suffer with mental illness or addictions. I thought of the difference that our devoted Sionito team is making in their lives. I know these people and stories to be precious and sacred.

I thought of a group of young adults and others gathered around tables at GTA-West congregation, forming a production line to pack more than 150 lunches to be shared with homeless or poor people in the city of Toronto. I thought of the love that went into those bags with the cookies and apples and peanut butter sandwiches. I thought of the smiles those lunches produced. I know these moments to be sacred and precious indeed.

The point is that every life is sacred, and so is every encounter and every story. Our task is to share our sacred story with others, and to listen carefully to theirs. It is not just in our sacred space that this happens, but in every space made sacred by the fact of God’s creation and the presence of God’s children. It is in the sharing that we create new sacred stories. I know this deeply to be true.

As we each go throughout our day today, may we each be blessed by an awareness that each moment and each person we encounter is sacred, and may we share and create sacred stories as we go.

Posted by Carman