The Shift Toward Enough
By Cindy Halvorson.
A couple of years ago, we bought an old farm with an old farmhouse and a few out buildings. According to our plan, we began a complete renovation of the old farmhouse while we lived in it. At one point during the extensive renovation, one of my plants was placed in a room I seldom entered. I would occasionally check on it and water it. It seemed to be doing just fine … until it wasn’t. The time between waterings had stretched beyond the plant’s ability to survive. I considered discarding the plant and dirt and keeping the pot, but instead, I closed the door to the room and walked away, feeling a bit frustrated with myself for not giving the plant more attention.
*****
Everything has a life cycle. There are times of flourishing and times of withering, even dying. It’s normal. Yet most people I know strongly dislike the idea of life cycles. We strive for thriving. We yearn for flourishing. We are uncomfortable with withering and dying. Often when we encounter the withering and dying, the diminishing and declining, we begin clinging and grasping. This is a predictable way to struggle through times of transition.
Ministry contexts also have a life cycle. The times of transition within ministry and/or society, for that matter, can cause people to feel fearful and anxious, anticipating an upcoming loss. The anxiety of “not enough” becomes prevalent. Some are experiencing diminishing resources in their denominations, ministry contexts, churches, etc. (think finances and people). The lack of resources has produced a sense of fear about the survival of their particular ministry and the church at large. As is common, the decline becomes the focus; clinging and grasping become the tools used to try to assuage the fear of the looming possible outcome.
I wonder how ministry contexts and faith communities might shift their perspective to view the resources they have as “enough.” Enough to do what The Divine is asking of them in this moment. Enough to engage the heart of love in this time. Enough to live out their specific calling. Enough to invest in the overarching values of care for the other and creation.
Yes, there is grief and sadness at the thought of something as precious to us as the-way-we-do-ministry coming to an end. There will be grief. For some they are already grieving. Yet what if the letting go of what was can give way to what is to come?
Grief? Yes.
Fear? Yes.
Transition? Yes.
Hope? Yes.
As human beings we are complex. We can hold emotions of grief or anticipatory grief and still make choices according to our values. I wonder … what if we walk with a sense of anticipation for what The Divine is doing in our corner of the world? What if the focus shifts from not having enough toward becoming an intentional catalyst for loving our neighbors whomever they might be with whatever resources we have? What if we become intentionally focused on seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God? I wonder … in what ways might we impact our world?
*****
Months had passed when I went into the room where the dead plant sat in its ceramic pot. As I grabbed the item I had gone in to retrieve, I glanced at the dead plant. To my surprise, there was a small green leaf sticking up through the soil. It wasn’t on the dead trunk of the plant. It was nearby and creating its own stem. I quickly moved the pot to my living space so I could tend it; mostly, I just watched and watered it. During the next several weeks the leaf continued to grow. The plant is considerably smaller than it was before, but it is producing more leaves as time passes. It’s smaller, but I’d say it’s flourishing.
May all our wonderings and wanderings lead us home.
