I must start out this reflection with a brief confession. Let me set the stage.
Our upcoming Annual Stewardship Program from October 18 to November 14 engages in the theme of Plenty Good Room. Naturally, this theme focuses our attention on openness, hospitality and accommodation. It is a wonderful theme and connects to many scriptural and biblical stories. Now let me offer my confession.
I had the privilege to attend two wonderful seminaries as I discerned where God was calling me to serve. The first was Iliff School of Theology in Denver where I received my M. Div. (Master of Divinity). It was a grand experience as I entered as a third-generation student. I felt the roots of my family’s ministries. The second was Candler School of Theology on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta where I received a Th. M. (Master of Theology). I loved being a student at both institutions. However, my time in Atlanta was more fraught with challenges, mostly associated with a quite foreign environment and ecology. I will save my challenges with humidity for another reflection, yet I digress.
Atlanta brought to bear the common expression ‘Can’t see the forest for the trees.’ Though it was not that I couldn’t see the wider picture of the forest, it was indeed the forest that occluded me. Being raised in Colorado, living in various places from mountains to plains, I experienced always being able to see for great distances, giving me always a sense of Plenty Good Room. It afforded me to always have a keen sense of direction, via landmarks, sometimes 100 plus miles away, to guide me. Simply, I always knew where I was and what directions to take to get to any destination that called.
My time in Atlanta was one of no longer being in the vast openness, but more enclosed due to always being surrounded by trees. I lost the sense of my direction on one hand, yet on the other hand learned what I needed to feed my soul in whatever ministry God was calling me to. I learned in my time in the South that I need areas where I can experience the big pictures, wider vistas and grand visions. I love trees and forests, yet I need also bright blue skies and vast areas of openness to give me a strong sense of hope in God’s expansive love for all that God has created.
So, I am grateful for being once again back in environments of vast vistas, blue skies and openness. I cherish this opportunity with you all learning new ways of being church in missional partnership. We will enter this coming year with discerning how we all can create Plenty Good Room to further ministry as we seek to find where God is calling us all and how we use our resources toward this purpose.
Peace
Fr. Doug
