We finally made it to Philly! We had a great trip through Washington D.C. and visited an old buddy from the energy consulting days who curiously is also a pastor now. She is pastor of the United Methodist Church right over a gas station in Rosslyn, Virginia about two blocks from where I worked when I was an energy consultant. I guess we both decided that we could make a bigger and better impact in the world working for God's kingdom rather that for either one of the administrations in Washington D.C. We got into Philly and went to the book store where Josh works and bought two audio books from him: Friedman's, "Hot, Flat and Overcrowded" and "Three Cups of Tea" by Mortensen and Relin. We will have plenty to listen to on the trip back. While I've been here I have reconnected with a great book "Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership" by Ruth Haley Barton. This morning I read her chapter on discernment entitled "Finding God's Will Together". It is an apporpriate book since we are gathering the family from all parts of the U.S. to celebrate together but no one person has the gathering figured out. We are celebrating both Josh and nephew Miles' graduations from College and High School, respectively. We are discerning as we go along what we want to do together. No one voice dominates. Nobody gets to dictate. We discover and discern togeher what to do in this time of celebration. Our goal is to build up the whole community as we celebrate Josh and Miles.
It is a good model for the church. Barton in her book on spiritual leadership makes the point that discernment is "selecting an option that seems consistent with what God is doing among you". She makes the point that we have to let our own desires die to be open to what God want's and what is best for the whole community. I am hopeful that we can do some of this communal discernemnt with our church and with our Presbytery. Hope you are having a good June. Blessings in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
2 comments:
Alex just finished reading Three Cups of Tea. He has been telling me quite a bit about it.
We are enjoying your posts.
I'm glad that"Three Cups of Tea" is being read at the college level. It is a great challenge to anyone who is trying to engage in authentic cross cultural dialogue. It reminded me our our trip to the Alabama-Conshotka mission trip and how our understanding of hospitality and time was very different from the folks who we got to know.
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