Last Tuesday, the Board of Deacons had their regular monthly meeting. There was a different energy, a certain enthusiasm in their voices and ideas of what the future might hold for Park Church. Ideas about how adult education and spiritual formation might happen in new ways within our congregation. Ideas about how today's technology could add vital elements to our worship and life together. Ideas about how we attract those folks who might never come through our doors if we do not do anything differently...
It seems as though many individuals, groups, and ministries throughout Park Church have already caught the bug and they really want to do what is needed to grow and renew our church. And catching the bug is the majority of the battle. It is exciting to see the excitement of what's to come growing! Unfortunately, catching the bug, even though its the larger portion of work to be done, it is also the easier work. The really hard work comes precisely when we try to do these new things...whatever they happen to be. As soon as we begin to move the proverbial furniture, our comfort level is disturbed and our anxiety increases. Even those who are ready to do all that is necessary to make Park Church a community cathedral of activity and attention within Grand Rapids, have something that will trigger their anxiety as soon as it moves.
It's ok. It's natural. It's human. It's not a bad thing. It's the same instinct that protects us from danger. It's an instinct we need.
Even as we look to the future with excitement, there is so much that is unknown. And if we are afraid of anything, we are afraid of the unknown.
What do we fear we might lose should we, the members and friends of Park Church, be successful in doing a new thing?
And yet, we have been told: love casts out fear.
How might we move forward in love, so that our love mitigates our fear, and the fears of others? How might we use that natural anxiety that keeps us safe and make it work for us rather than against us?
Our inclination might be to reject the anxiety. If you're not for us, you're against us, we might say. However, if we reject our anxiety outright, we might just be rejecting the very energy that will cause us to grow!
The energy of anxiety, if transformed, can be the very energy that causes us to grow! It can be the energy we use to discern between what is growing and what is passing away. It can be the energy with which we start new ministries. It can be the energy of life and growth, and not the energy of fear and stagnation. Energy is neutral. It is our choice what we do with it.
Transformation is possible. It's possible for us and it's possible today!
Park has received a wonderful gift: an opportunity to respond to a call. The synchronicity of people and ideas in these last weeks cannot be random. Rather, we are being nudged to respond to the question that so many of us have asked during the last years: what does God call Park Church to be in this time and in this place? If we are reacting to the book, the discussions, the sermons with even a slight shudder at the prospect of change, then we need to honor that small voice and ask how we can help. This is not a time to turn away. After all, we take each step into tomorrow with the God who shows us commas, not periods.
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