Categories: uncategorized
Date: 19 May 2011 08:58:04
"out of such [messy] reality comes a deep resilience of the human spirit that gives zest and joy to life. It is not to deny that these things happened but that somehow, despite everything, today is a gift. Life is here and now, confusing, messed up, contradictory, yet it is life."
I read this quote on page 53 of Mixed-Up Blessing by Barbara Glasson and I smiled. This couple of sentences sum it up for me. I am at a point of standing in a very muddled now having to reflect on a very messy past and I see that yes, "despite everything, today is a gift."
This book was one I picked up to read out of curiosity more than anything else, having heard various stuff about Glasson and her work in Liverpool. It was by somebody who I am really looking forward to hearing this year at Greenbelt.
I found the book useful because it talks about how she was involved in developing an emerging church project in a way which is sensitive and appropriate - without being at all trendy. Basically her story talked of the world I know, rather than the world inhabited mainly by twenty and thirty something young professionals. Yes, I know I exaggerate and all emerging communities are somewhat more complex - but unlike atlot of the stories of emerging communities within the Gibbs and Bolger book Emerging Churches this spoke to me about the sort of people I encounter more regularly and am more comfortable with.
What I found particularly useful in this book is the way that it does not seek to romanticise, rather it seeks to reinforce the important aspects of such work. It explains that boundary setting is important, both personally and within the community. Theological reflection as a continuous present tense activity is vital. Not everything can go and sometimes, for the good of the wider community, some level of exclusion is necessary - even within very inclusive settings. Yet, it explains these things in an almost light hearted way which is compassionate rather than dictatorial. It highlights how such boundary setting, whilst vital, can be painful. As I increasingly move forward, fumbling in the dark in many ways, this type of reminder to use all the techniques and skills I already have from years of working with 16 - 19 year olds is useful.
At the moment I am in the mist of transferring these skills into a new world where I have to put up barriers which are not to keep others out defensively, but rather to proactively protect myself, my family and ultimately other people. I am having to learn the skill of knowing how to negotiate different relationships with people in a way which means I will have to rethink my use of this and other spaces. Facebook is one I am having to significantly re-think. Whilst the first step has been drastically reducing my friends list I do need to constantly think before I post something..."is this something others need to know about in this way, or would an individual or a group text be more appropriate?"