We may have been asked in the past to ‘dare to imagine‘… I know I have asked people to do this. We wanted to consider the whole landscape, to ponder what God’s new vision might just be. And this isn’t about have SMART targets, but possibly to reset our ways, to allow us to dream small.
The God who does all things makes oceans… from rivers.
Josh Wilson, Dream Small
Possibly we have used some of our time in this pandemic to reflect on what Church was, is and could be in the future. Whether the importance of the message of Jesus is affecting, truly impacting, those around us. Do people actually understand the difference of believing in Jesus, not just the academic ‘head’ stuff…but deep down, making a real difference to their lives? Do we?
Don’t buy the lie you’ve gotta do it all
Josh Wilson, Dream Small
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time
Live well
Loving God and others as yourself
Do we need to do it all?
We ask people for a commitment from the outset : ‘give your whole lives’ but what do we all understand that actually means? Possibly we need to focus upon the smaller things to build the bigger things – we need to dream small.
I don’t think it means “we’ve gotta do it all”; in fact I am pretty sure it means more about ‘being’ than ‘doing’.
Have we ever read that some people do the talk but do they do the walk?
Before we even step out on ‘that walk’ we need to know who we are, know that God loves every single one of us, and from that foundation move onwards into doing. So our mental health, our own wellbeing is so important. You can’t give all of yourself, you also need to rest – live well.
So is faith life-limiting?
Keep loving, serving
Josh Wilson, Dream Small
listening, learning
praying, hoping
seeking, searching
This feels like a long list of “thou shalt’s” when, to me, it really is looking after yourself, and watch what results from that! You don’t have to be a monk! It isn’t limited but through hope, learning and searching we do not place ‘walls’ on ourself but allow vulnerability and freedom – it’s life-releasing.
To me, it’s akin to my ‘Rule of Life‘ within my Religious Order, or Richard Carter’s ‘Rule of Life‘ in the Nazareth Community, or the Methodist Way Of Life. These are all ways that we can ensure that we are grounded, self-maintained.
So comes from this?
So that we can be that welcome, that show of love, that offer of hospitality when its needed. We should not underestimate the power of small acts of kindness and look for little ways to show His love to others.
Because visiting the widow down the street
Josh Wilson, Dream Small
Or dancing on a Friday with your friend …
These simple moments change the world
Here’s That song from Josh Wilson. In this time of Pandemic, when contemplating what might be, possibly let those moments be ones where we ‘dream small’, for God made oceans out of rivers.
The lyrics are here. Other blogs which encapsulate this motive are here.
Thanks Bob.
I wonder if instead of ‘giving whole lives’, there is need to develop a mindset of ‘living our whole lives’ – starting with discovering who we are in the eyes of our creator, finding the freedom of being ourselves – who God made us to be. Then little by little we give, do, serve, from the wholeness of our being.
I agree! I added “You can’t give all of yourself” and I think we need to understand who we are first. Not just ourself, but as you add – who God made us to be. Often we think in religious even pious terms, but there’s a tranquility of knowing that God loves every part of us. Perhaps we strive too much, for something that is already there, if we dare to look?
I think it was Danielle Shroyer who wrote “Without Pentecost, we’d just be people who tell Jesus’ story. With Pentecost, we’re people who live into Jesus’ story”.