Although it has been a while since we posted an update, there have been lots of developments on our Treasure Hunt – the most significant being we have found a house! We are staying more local than we first thought we might and hope to move in early October. Prayers for all the bits of the jigsaw to fall into place as the solicitors do their thing would be much appreciated!
In August, I had the privilege of attending the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit in Chicago. The GLS features speakers from both Christian and secular organisations – working from the premise that “armed with enough humility, leaders can learn from anyone”. Hearing from so many great leaders in the space of 2-days was a treat, and there was so much to absorb but one theme in particular has been resonating with me since getting back home: The power of proximity. And this has been particularly interesting given our journey to explore where God might be calling us to serve in the future.
Bryan Stephenson is an American civil rights lawyer who works to challenge biases against the poor and minorities in the criminal justice system, particularly children. (His TED talk is well worth watching!) He spoke about how we cannot be effective leaders from a distance. That we need to get close so we can see and hear things that we would otherwise miss, and so that the people we are serving truly believe we are alongside them. How too often we think that we need to have the answers before we get involved, but if we don’t understand the real issues, we can’t solve the problems. Bryan challenged us to take risks, be willing to do uncomfortable things and position ourselves in uncomfortable places.
I’ve been reflecting on what this means for us as we seek to join in with the “Missio Dei” – the mission of God. How are we alongside and in proximity with those in our communities? In my experience, it is so often easier to do to, rather than to do with. We can be present but without getting to know people personally. Pope Francis called on priests to be “shepherds living with the smell of the sheep”.
Pope Francis also wrote:
My mission of being in the heart of the people is not just a part of my life or a badge I can take off…we have to regard ourselves as sealed, even branded by this mission of bringing light, blessing, enlivening, raising up, healing and freeing.
Just as Jesus became God incarnate or “moved into the Neighbourhood” (as The Message translates John 1:14) so we have an incarnational mission to join in with. And that means smelling like the sheep we are serving!
What does that mean for us on our journey? We have some exciting possibilities to explore – opportunities to be part of what God is already doing. Please pray for clarity, wisdom and discernment as we continue to journey and explore.