Category: Leadereship

Yes There Is Hope

Parents and day care operators in Ontario are struggling with permission for day care centres to open again tomorrow (June 12) with all that it takes actually to be ready for that. Also, here in Ontario, the government  has announced plans for postsecondary schools to open in the summer for students, particularly this year’s grads, to complete their school year, schools having closed in March. 

Beyond the logistics involved in these developments, it strikes me there is a common concern between the near end of schooling and care before it even begins: How to have healthy, whole humans, equipped for a world that will very quickly–again and repeatedly–become unrecognizable?

The specific knowledge and skills carefully and thoroughly to be developed need bearing in the special vessel of our acknowledged interdependent humanity.

Signs of hope among some leaders of today: Mayors Keisha Lance Bottoms (Atlanta) and Muriel Bowser (District of Columbia), Prime Ministers Yacinda Ardern (New Zealand) and Mette Frederiksen (Denmark), Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia, and (take note of the name for future reference) Chika Stacy Oriuwa, 2020 University of Toronto medical school valedictorian. Note that even to this white male retired pastor from an agrarian patriarchal religion, it is women who come to mind.

There is hope in such leadership, and for each of us. I (still) find it expressed: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a).

Choose Infinite Possibility

When we work together there are infinite possibilities. That’s an observable truth. From the perspective of faith, it should be no surprise. We have been given a world in which we have everything we need. We have been given minds and hearts to make loving use of it all. It is all meant for the sake of living in community — with one another and in partnership with all of creation.  The possibilities are boundless.

It doesn’t take much thought for anyone with even half a heart of caring to recognize how valuable it was for Alberta to release medical equipment to other provinces. School children are undertaking projects to help food banks and help fund Personal Protective Equipment for front line workers. The examples, as you know, go on and wonderfully on.

There is, however, and sadly, another kind of possibility. It could be characterized, broadly, as opportunism.

Coronavirus Coups.  That’s the term that’s been used to characterize the actions of national regimes that go far beyond what is necessary in having enhanced powers to deal with the pandemic. They take it as an opportunity to grab powers, with no end date, that enhance their dictatorial predilections. Then there is some price gouging here and there, and looting of closed retail locations. Yes, opportunism. 

Any moral person recognizes the beauty of one and the ugliness of the other here. But it goes deeper. Opportunists among us, you take many forms. Know that you are cheating yourself. There is a simple equation to this. Work together: boundless opportunity and possibilities. Go it selfishly and opportunistically alone: Initial success of some kind, perhaps, but ultimately constriction and dead ends. It is not “just the way the world works.” 

The way the world works has been shown not to be working. We must not go back to what we have known if that’s what’s “normal.”

Talent Search

It has been noted that Google has acquired not only a vast number of companies, but also a great variety of types of acquisitions. The answer, it has been proposed, is that what Google is primarily interested in acquiring is talent, thus explaining the seeming lack of sense or pattern to their acquisitions.

Google is recognizing what the church has known all along. Or maybe I should say it is something some churches need to re-learn. It is great to have vision and goals and develop programs accordingly, but many churches go full tilt into such things without really taking stock of who they have and what they have to offer. The advantage of doing this is to (a) launch into things you are actually suited for, and (b) to discern a depth of talent and personal resources you may not have known you have. Can’t claim expertise in this, but it seems to be what vibrant, faithful churches do.

Passionate Messengers

Much has been mentioned today about the role of Twitter in the horror in Nairobi over the last few days. Right now our main concern is prayer for those directly affected by this horror. We would also pray, as instructed (Matthew 6:13) for deliverance from evil, over which we have no power of our own. We can only limit its manifestations. That being said, there will be in time maybe some advantage in reflecting a bit on some the reporting that has been made today through various sites and networks about the role of social media, specifically Twitter, through all this.

Specifically, it seems to be observed that those working the side of evil were better at using communication tools than the authorities. The bad guys seem to be acknowledged has having been more persistent, inventive, and actually more accurate about events as they were happening. I think we want to remember, however, that the terrorists knew what was going to happen because they planned it, and could plan the communication aspect of it as well, whereas the authorities had no time to plan the communications about something they did not know was going to happen. Also, authorities and institutions seem by nature to be more measured, cautious, and, often, slow to ackknowledgge realities.

I am compelled to see a parallel with how powerful commercial forces communicate in the world and how the church communicates. There are forces that create “needs” in us and are poised to fulfill those instilled needs. The communication is persistent,, nimble and inventive. We in the church communicate like authorities and institutions: with little of what we would call passion, which would bring persistence, nimbleness and inventiveness. OK, there is a huge difference in monetary resources. But there is also a huge difference in energy and creativity available – in our favour – through the Holy Spirit. The real difference is in passion. Where is ours?

 

To Guide Our Decisions

It is the time of year many church decision-making bodies will be meeting to gear up for the fall, or (preferably) to touch base on and confirm what has been worked out previously. Typically decisions are made concerning near-future activities and projects in accordance with a broader or longer-range plan or vision. It is generally considered advisable that all of this be as concrete as possible, and therefore, also, measurable.

Fine and good. But for Christian groups and organizations there is something more fundamental that comes before any of that, according to Paul in Colossians 3, at least the way I read it. And this will affect not only the spirit in which such decisions are made, but may well also affect outcomes. It is the priority of peace among Christians.

In reading verses 13-17 of Colossians 3, I see a progression from making sure there is peace and unity, and then, and only then, is there any talk of action, which is first making sure Christ’s teaching is embedded in all hearts, through mutual sharing and worship, and, for that matter, doing everything, in action or word, in the name of the Lord Jesus. Each part: the emphasis on peace (verse 14), worshipful community (15), and, summarily, doing all in the name of Jesus (verse 17), has thanksgiving as an integral part of it.

In the midst of visioning and action plans and setting measurable goals, we might want to consider peace as fundamental to it all. That’s the way I read it, anyway. Is that too conservative; does it detract from the great commission; does it keep us from being bold? No, the more I think about this, and reflect on some past hard experience, I think, ultimately, it makes for greater possibilities. A people united can do anything.