We all lead.

Sometimes we do that leading in acknowledged and titled ways.

Always we lead; titled or no.  We do it through the ways we speak and listen as well as take action and rest.

Leading in a church is an adventure like few others.  We are grounded on the teachings and leading provided by Jesus.  Jesus knew that people were going to bump into each other in ways that would sometimes provoke hurt.  Knowing that, he taught much about forgiveness and about being willing to know the larger heart of the Holy that connects and grounds us through pain and joy alike.  He taught that our larger identity, beyond any other labels we might graft onto our sense of self, is that of follower of the Way.  We stumble, we lurch, we glide and we fly and in all of those human beings, we are people connected by Holy grace.

Not a one of us does life without bruises inflicted and received.  To be in community is to know hurt.

My prayer in all of our attempts to live the teachings of Jesus is that we remember our larger holding.

At RUMC, we seek to live in such a way that we see the Christ in all.  We make decisions and make life seeking to create community in such a way that when hurts happen, as we know they will, there is a sense of the larger heart holding us as we discern our call to fullness of life.

On this day, I want to name the courage it takes to step into the world and seek to live teachings meant to bless and provoke.

In all things, at all times, this thing called leadership calls for mindful, courageous, humble and compassionate engagement of whole selves.

This thing called “church” is a wholeness laboratory.

Thank God for holy Petrie dishes.