Follow me

At our most recent Path of Renewal Conferences, one of the things we considered was the call of Jesus to “Follow me.”
In some ways (though certainly not others) a vague call. We considered how it is often helpful in following that call and in helping others recognise their call to embrace vagueness. Vagueness allow us to be responsive and flexible.
This has always been an important element in the Path of Renewal movement. We accompany one another on a journey in which we discover what it is that Christ calls us to in each of our different contexts, both as the body of Christ together but also as individuals on whose lives Christ makes his call.
We went further than that, though, to look at discernment. How do we discern the specifics of the vagueness of the call, “Follow me”.
That, too, has been an important part of Path of Renewal - that we make space and take time to discern the uniqueness of God’s call in each place and for each follower. Making space and taking time are not easy when we are already part of busy communities of faith. Journeying together on Path of Renewal has proved how difficult it is to create the space required and the pressure that is around to maintain the busyness of being disciples. What we have learned anew is the vitality of spending time with God, not just speaking but listening deeply. And we’ve shared with one another the spiritual practices that help us and sustain us in that.
The vagueness of Christ's call is not accidental - it necessitates our walking closely with him, listening, being sure of what our immutable values are, our gospel imperatives, and being prepared and able to change everything else.
Following Christ demands that we are equipped with the same responsiveness with which Christ encountered those whom he met in all sorts of ways in so many places - staying close to Christ enables us to do that.
It is important, now more than ever, for disciples to embrace the tasks of discernment and relearn how we engage in that to enable us to be faithful, obedient and responsive to the call of Christ.

Being intentional

Acts 16:13
On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.

Whenever I arrive in a strange place, instinct calls me to seek out a river or some other body of water. Walking by moving water enables me to process and shake off the burdens of the day and create the space for new experiences. The rhythm of walking, accompanied by the movement of the water bring refreshment and Renewal.
When the first apostles seek out the river as they go from city to city, they do so with purpose. They are intentionally seeking out those places where folk might gather so that they can engage them with the gospel. Their instincts took them to those places where people had reason to be. Be it the river or the market square, those early evangelists sought out such places with intention - so that they might engage in the mission of God.

Intentionality still goes a long way in gospel sharing. Wherever our routines take us, it’s what we do in those spaces that will shape the nature of our encounters. And so our daily routines, offered prayerfully to God, can become opportunities to witness to the hope that is within us. We don’t, necessarily have to change those places we hang out or even adopt different practices - but we can be more intentional about living out and engaging others with the faith that shapes us.
Every space is sacred space and the way we occupy space with the expectation of encountering God shapes the encounters we have with others.

Stories of Transformation

In the lastest round of Regional Conferences for congregations engaged in Path of Renewal, we’ve been encouraging folks to tell their stories. And folk have been generous in their sharing - as well as honest. Stories shared haven’t simply been all the shiny bits of things that have gone well - but sharing of work in progress, of wrong turnings and changes in direction. There has been a recounting of risks taken and of lessons learned.

There is something about stories that allows both the tellers and the listeners to find a communal point of connection, a shared place of vulnerability. There is the opportunity to see, in a story, a moment of inspiration and of possibility.

Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. Brené Brown, Daring Greatly.

We’ve heard of  a minister being banned from the weekly cafe outreach...  of a congregation with no buildings... we’ve been inspired by the tale of Granny Sparkle, great inter generational corroboration between the church and school community... we’ve heard of experimental work with dwindling numbers of young people ...of leadership development... of generational characteristics disrupting Session meetings.

As well as inspiration and consolation, all of the stories contribute to the reality that none of us has the answer or the solution to how we can effectively join God in mission today - EXCEPT, to show up, to pitch in and to let God be God, using what we have and the gifts we offer.

We should never underestimate the power of stories in transformation and the comfort and inspiration there is in sharing. The sense of being in this together with God enables us to journey on in faithfulness and obedience and to continue to create communities that encourage and support risk taking for the sake of the kingdom of God.

Dwelling In the word

Over the last three years, one of the Spiritual Practices we have encouraged in those who are involved in Path of Renewal is “ Dwelling in the Word”, a practice that allows us to hear, discern and to speak aloud God’s word for us in a particular moment.
The slow, patient, persistent introduction of this practice into our gatherings in so many different contexts has affected our culture in ways seen and unseen. Unleashing the power of God’s word has led to barriers being broken down, confidence in discerning the mission of God and personal and communal transformation.
As well as being a tool for discernment, Dwelling in the Word also helps to frame and inform our meeting together. By starting our time together listening out for God, we set up a reverence and an expectation that affects how we are with one another. We see the Spirit of God weaving her way in and around all our encounters and discussions that ensue as we continue to meet.
Just one of many examples, for illustration: listening to the words of Jesus echoing through the crowds who were preventing a blind man from getting to Jesus and considering how Jesus reached out to the excluded and marginalised individual (Luke 18:35-43) allowed those engaged in the exercise to know themselves heard and regarded by Jesus and the rest of our time together was informed by hearing Jesus say “Bring him to me” and “What do you want me to do for you.”
Of course none of this should surprise us  - but as we’ve privatised faith and professionalised preaching in so many of our congregations, it has required a slow work of gentle persuasion to encourage individuals to trust that God speaks to and through them. Biblical literacy in Dwelling in the Word has no relevance. Rather, it is the hearing, sharing and responding to the prompting of God in the shared moment that is vital.
A vital spiritual practice and a tool for transformation.