My job these days is talking to people, which is something I love.  Talking to people who we already know, talking to people who have been referred to us by others, talking to my neighbors as they stop by while I’m shoveling mulch.
And everybody I talk to has questions.  From my neighbors, “Oh did you know those two houses over there are part of that community church on 13th?” or “Have you guys done any work with labor unions?”  From folks we’re just getting to know “What do you hope the community looks like?”  or “What’s the next step?” From people I already know “How did you end up here?”
What all these conversations and questions are helping me realize is that questions are just what our new community is all about.  We want to get to the place where we can ask each other hard questions that will lead to transformation.
An example of this occurred recently for me at a gathering where I saw lots of friends from high school who I’d lost touch with over the years. We talked about our lives and jobs and kiddos. And of course we talked about faith and the new church start.  One of my friends asked me some pretty difficult questions.  He’s inquisitive and smart and interested in things and likes to push people just a little bit. Because I know all this I knew I wasn’t being attacked or mocked when I was asked things I had never even thought about.  And I also knew it was okay that I didn’t have answers right then.  But I can tell you that his questions continue to make me think.  I’m so grateful for these kinds of interactions and know that because of all these conversations our new church start will be better.  The questions I’m being asked are transforming me, helping me to grow and to think differently.
That’s what we plan to be to one another as we create this community.  A safe place where our questions allow us each to become more deeply engaged spiritually.  It’s not an easy journey, but one we know to be worthwhile.
-Eilidh

Question mark path