I realize I have not posted to this blog for nearly two years. While I served as the Interim Dean at Grace Cathedral in Topeka, Kansas, my sermons were posted on their website. I stopped posting here. I retired the end of in August 2019. I am still making fibre art, doing appreciative consulting work, facilitating groups, teaching, and learning more about technology. This is the first new post.
I will also continue to post on this blog. You will find meditations, poetry, fibre art, appreciative words and, what I trust will be gentle suggestions for turning from fear to love, sadness to joy, and being more and more the people God created us to be at our best.
We stand in a pandemic. Many have already fallen.
My science and doctor friends are the prophets who look back at the past to think about the future and the outcomes we will see if we continue in the direction we have been traveling. We have largely ignored their warning signs of overpopulation, overuse of the land, racism, newly-developing and increasing illnesses and conditions, and other such signs. We have failed to celebrate and care for the earth and its many gifts. From this, Good Lord, deliver us!
My primary mentor in ordained ministry is The Rev Dr Rob Voyle of Clergy Leadership Institute. I learned Appreciate Inquiry from Rob and it is the most important thing I did in continuing education. I continue to live appreciatively in my ordained ministry and my daily life. One of the most satisfying and energizing things about Transition/Interim Ministry is seeing congregations and individuals thrive and grow closer to God even after I have moved on to another position. I measure the success of a ministry by what happens after I leave. I am deeply thankful for those moments.
Recently a parish Rob served did an extremely helpful rewrite of 1Corinthians 12:1-14. I hardly ever post on Facebook, but will be posting it there, or you can read it on Rob Voyle’s Facebook page. I recommend reading it because it is one of many such helpful and healing things practicing Appreciative Inquiry brings forth in congregations and individuals.
I am convinced Jesus was the first teacher and practitioner of Appreciative Inquiry. Remember how he said, “You have heard it said...but I say to you,“1 and then filled in the rest of his sentence with what the reign of God looks like, sounds like, feels like, smells like, tastes like, and acts like. In this current time when we cannot touch physically the people we love, we must imitate Christ Jesus, even on Zoom, Facebook, and FaceTime and the many other iterations available. Choose the way of love, the way of God, the joy of Christ Jesus, because it is a choice. Once you have chosen, may it be known and loved by others so that through you God’s love is known.
Tall order? Yes! God deals in both minutiae and giants. God invites us to be partners in enlarging and demonstrating the love created in us from our beginning.
Blessings - Nic
1 As found in the Gospel of Matthew and implied in other biblical passages. Go on a romp through the Gospels and see what you find that is appreciative!
