My dreams lately have all been about not measuring up, of being lost, or of having to pack and move. This is the season of clergy appointments and church transitions in the United Methodist world. While I have no intentions of moving this year and have made that clear to the leadership, we never really know what the Bishop might ask or us as clergy or faith communities. This year I think I am so anxious not because it is appointment season, but because our community is at a vital moment. We have held together during this pandemic, and as I shared in my blog 2 weeks ago we are in pretty good shape. We do have to dip in to our reserves to pay our portion of the costs of the larger United Methodist church, however and we are asking all of you to give a little extra, 33 a month per giving unit, to make up that difference. And this makes me feel that almost, but not yet feeling that allows my anxiety to run amok. We are so close to something amazing. We have great ideas and wonderful people and are operating well and frugally. It feels like we are about to arrive.
And I feel this almost, but not yet sense about the wider world too. As we look at the cries for justice in our city and the tragic shooting of those supporting the work of activists this week; As Russian invades Ukraine and the world figures out how to respond; As schools around us try to to deal with decreasing enrollment and demographic changes; I see so much potential for good and so much risk of harm. So my dreams have me seeking, have me trying, have me falling short. And that is how I feel about life in this moment. We keep seeking, we keep trying, and we keep falling short.
The work of our faith community is to come together when we stumble, to lean on each other when the world seems grim. This is the place where we can share our shortcomings and receive encouragement for the path ahead. It’s where we can name our grief for people we don’t even know who are under invasion and struggle to understand how God would have us be in the world to shine light. My dreams are the cry of my heart as I imagine living into God’s dream for us all.
May we each be stirred to restlessness that we might bring forth God’s dream as a reality for all people.
-Eilidh
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