Biologists tell us that spring moves northward on average about 13 miles a day.As the sun arches further north as the earth rounds the bend toward summer, the renewal of life in the northern hemisphere takes place gradually.We see those minute changes every day in spring; snow melting, earth thawing, crocuses emerging... finally more warmth comes and grasses grow and trees leaf-out.
Yet for the migrating birds, the little ones who fight the north wind for each mile, the weather and flora they fly into each day remains about the same.The larger reality is that spring is coming and earth is warming—they log miles every day—they are making progress— yet they cannot tell any difference based upon their experience.To them it is perpetual cold, muddy, early spring.When they reach their nesting grounds in the arctic far north and begin their work of preparing for new life, then spring finally catches up with them.
Migrating north at 13 miles a day has been our experience over these last years in this building project.We were making progress right along, but it sure didn’t feel like it; the landscape changed underneath our very wings or feet…periods of time when the sun didn’t shine with warmth or clarity.In this never-never land state, I was reminded of Paul’s words to the Corinthians:
We don’t yet see things clearly.We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist.But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright!We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
Paul was speaking of our experience with God and understanding the mystery of life, and I believe it is a wonderful description.Our perception of God and even of ourselves is incomplete.More than that, we have a deep sense that we ourselves are incomplete.John Wesley talked about “going on to perfection” in the spiritual life and what he really meant was completeness or wholeness.The promise is that God is at work in our lives and souls bringing about that completeness, wholeness, and that we will be able to see and understand it all clearly.
While we feel this incompleteness and can’t see clearly the future God is leading us towards as a congregation, there are some things that we can see:One of them is the need to re-pitch our tent and why we are migrating.
The Need:Anyone who showed up for worship a few weeks ago and received a cold welcome knows viscerally of our need.Our Boiler, now named “Dino”, has broken down six or seven times this season so far and has required professional help three or four times.(Now I am not quite as old as Dino, but I have broken down a few times myself…requiring professional help…I’m feeling kinda old.)
The other hindrances we can see clearly include our lack of parking of course— pushing any large funeral we now might host to a Saturday only— a neighborhood that is rapidly changing around us, a building with virtually no insulation, outdated single pane windows, plumbing and electrical “issues”, safety and security concerns, and space and design limitations that hinder hospitality; stairs to get into the building 90% of the time, inadequate restroom space and accessibility, and no gathering space proximate to the sanctuary for fellowship and connection.The need for migration is before us with clarity.
The other part of that we can see clearly is the vision—the call of God to be in Ministry.We have a vision for doing our ministry with faithfulness and effectiveness that is true to ourselves and our experience of God.Our mission is “to create and build Christian community through inviting, forming, and sending faithful, active disciples of Jesus Christ.”And we go about doing that by providing a welcoming community—open to all, by fulfilling God’s call to work for a just society, by holding children and families of all configurations in our care, and by fueling it all with a deep Christian spirituality that transforms us.
We see clearly the need.We see clearly the vision.The spiritual, program and personnel tools are in place, the potential is great.
So completeness… or more complete-completeness is coming. More accurately, more wholeness is coming…and it is becoming clearer.A wholeness that will allow us to minister without hindrances to those who need us. Today we see visions in a clearer way than ever before.It is wonderful.But these depictions are also partial; incomplete…they are concepts, wide brush strokes—not finished plans.The visions will continue to sharpen, with your help— feedback, ideas, suggestions, input, energy…resources.
Our job, until that further completeness, wholeness, is to “Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.” Love God, love our neighbor…those who will join us in that future, and love each other with an extravagance, an extravagance worthy of God’s abundant love and grace. Amen.
