When we first move to a place I am a woman on a mission. I want to get to know people and find a community. So I eavesdrop on conversations and just invite myself in to things. I show up at the meetings of various committees and local groups. I scan the paper for opportunities. Then I get comfortable. I settle in with my new friends and routines.
This is fine, to have a sense of belonging and normalcy, but for my own personal faith development it is deadly. The reason is that I put blinders on when I get comfortable and I stop being able to see outside of my own narrowly defined experience. I miss the places God is calling me to be present because I think I already found them. A perfect example is my Pilates class. When I first started taking classes this summer I was friendly level 4. Subtle, quiet, but looking for opportunities to connect to people. I would work to learn the other students’ names and ask them questions like how their back was this week. I would linger after class to chat. Now I’m a regular, an insider, and I don’t work at getting to know new people. I’m at friendly level 2. I smile, but don’t engage with people I don’t already know. (The scale goes to 10 by the way and those of you who have experienced 10 know it.)
I know that my call is to connect with others and to share love with them in lots of ways. When I stop seeing new people, when I get to the place where I don’t need them because I already belong, I lose a precious part of who God made me to be in this world. I have to continually remind myself to look out beyond the edges of my life. To that end I’m exploring volunteering with the SouthWest Health Clinic as an intake admin. I’m thinking about what classes I can take at the Sellwood Community Center and I’m working to remember the names of the new people in Pilates (what a great opportunity New Year’s resolutions can be for me!)
Jeff is doing similar work, branching out, diversifying his experiences. One exciting thing is that he has been selected as the new coordinator of the Brooklyn Community Garden. He will be getting to know a whole new group of people who are passionate about gardening and food justice. Jeff is also composing music for a friend of ours who does video productions. Watching the videos and writing music to highlight another’s story is a great way for an introvert like him to see beyond the edges of his life to the places God is at work in the world.
For me this continuous effort to diversify where we are planted in God’s love is a huge part of the gospel call we’ve been exploring at the traditional church I serve part time. Jesus says, “Follow me, come and see.” I’m on my way.
-Eilidh
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| That’s a field with Mt. Adams behind it. I picked this because I took it on my way to White Swan one day, traveling outside my usual life when we lived in Yakima. |
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