Faithfully forward?
June 16, 2011
Oh my the time flew by... It seems like just last month that I arrived at JBM, but it's been 3 years! So many faces, and names, and memories shared. As I've been cleaning my office this past month, packing, deciding what to gift, what to take with me, what to discard, emailing farewell messages, I realize that this is simply LIfe calling me forward again.
I'm quite used to moving - my father's (change in) vocation had our family moving every 3-4 years. My own change(s) in vocation have also had me facing new challenges or saying goodbye to cherished friends about every 4 years. So as I face moving on from this minsitry (especially with the children and young families) it feels a bit familiar. I move on, with both the sadness of saying goodbye to cherished friends, and with excitement of facing new challenges.
This time's different, though. I've always had "a place to go"; I've always gone "to" something else. It's usually been me picking "what's next". This time I'm not leaving "to" something; I have no solid map to follow. Usually I don't like driving in fog...but there is something vibrant and energizing and unbelievably Holy about this time.
Perhaps it is Life calling me forward. Faith is about trust, about not knowing the outcome. Like Coming Out into a New Life. Perhaps this is (yet another) experience of Resurrection - the stone's been moved, and some Energy says "Come forth!" Maybe this is about faithfully going forward, one step at a time, not towards what is known end, but in a Cloud of Unknowing, and truly trusting that which I have come to know:
that Godde is beyond perfect description.
that Godde is Holy, and Wholly Other, and Wholly Love.
that being part of a community that wonders together, that welcomes all wonderers, that seeks relationships that are just and value all Creatures equally is experiencing the amazing Grace and Holy-ness in my soul.
Maybe that is what makes me (us?) Whole.
And maybe that is enough.
I keep hearing a prayer in my head: May we go from here, not knowing where we go, but only that "God's hand" is leading and guiding us.
And another: God's grace is deeper than our imagination. Christ's love is stronger than our need, that the Spirit's community is fuller than our togetherness.
As I hope in the name of Christ, and the love and hope for which that stands, so may it be.
May you know abundant blessings in your life's journey.
Love,
Heather .
I'm quite used to moving - my father's (change in) vocation had our family moving every 3-4 years. My own change(s) in vocation have also had me facing new challenges or saying goodbye to cherished friends about every 4 years. So as I face moving on from this minsitry (especially with the children and young families) it feels a bit familiar. I move on, with both the sadness of saying goodbye to cherished friends, and with excitement of facing new challenges.
This time's different, though. I've always had "a place to go"; I've always gone "to" something else. It's usually been me picking "what's next". This time I'm not leaving "to" something; I have no solid map to follow. Usually I don't like driving in fog...but there is something vibrant and energizing and unbelievably Holy about this time.
Perhaps it is Life calling me forward. Faith is about trust, about not knowing the outcome. Like Coming Out into a New Life. Perhaps this is (yet another) experience of Resurrection - the stone's been moved, and some Energy says "Come forth!" Maybe this is about faithfully going forward, one step at a time, not towards what is known end, but in a Cloud of Unknowing, and truly trusting that which I have come to know:
that Godde is beyond perfect description.
that Godde is Holy, and Wholly Other, and Wholly Love.
that being part of a community that wonders together, that welcomes all wonderers, that seeks relationships that are just and value all Creatures equally is experiencing the amazing Grace and Holy-ness in my soul.
Maybe that is what makes me (us?) Whole.
And maybe that is enough.
I keep hearing a prayer in my head: May we go from here, not knowing where we go, but only that "God's hand" is leading and guiding us.
And another: God's grace is deeper than our imagination. Christ's love is stronger than our need, that the Spirit's community is fuller than our togetherness.
As I hope in the name of Christ, and the love and hope for which that stands, so may it be.
May you know abundant blessings in your life's journey.
Love,
Heather .
Posted by Cody Creed.
We've got 2 new signs happening here this week. One says "Celebrating JC at the Heart of JB" and the other is a freshly painted United Church Crest (Thank you John and Tony.) How do we celebrate JC? Maybe it's worth asking: Who is JC to you? 
