It is easy. And understandable. And dangerous.
It is easy, understandable, and dangerous for you as a church board to narrow the aperture of your vision, so that you only see:
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- Budgets
- Buildings
- Complaints
- Staff problems
- Staff vacancies
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Of course, congregations consist of so much more than budgets, buildings, complaints, staff problems, staff vacancies. But it takes disciplined, motivated work to open up and see beyond those issues—to see a faith community in all its need, challenge, joy, wonder, and value.
For instance, beyond our plans and intentions, more people than we know might experience the church as a place of respite. Hopefully, a place of safety. Often, a place of rest and restoration. But how do we notice that? How do we find a place for it on our board meeting agenda?
Bible verses have a way of sounding innocuous, when really, they carry deep knowledge of human life and expansive hope and trust in the power of God. Notice the words “anything” and “everything” in Philippians 4:6-7.
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“Do not worry about anything.” There is a lot of peril in that anything, for life is hard and fragile and there is plenty that provokes anxiety in our souls.
“But in everything.” We are told to give everything to God. But to give everything to God, we have to see as much of the everything as we can. The good, the bad, the ugly, the threatening, the places of peace, and so much more. We need – and your church board needs – a wide and focused aperture to see it all, to pray for it all, to respond to it all, and to trust God with… everything.
In the following poem, New York-based writer Asiya Wadud opens up all her senses on a tour of the local library. Notice how she sees so much more than just books on shelves – and how that connects her to the drama of human life and need.
this is a library
by Asiya Wadud
this is a library
these are books
this is men with nowhere to go
this is the Chelsea Hotel
these are pee boots
this is a keen stench
these are letters
this is the mystery collection
and this is a library
this is a respite
this is a heads down hotel
this is a man doing his job
tap tap on the shoulder
this is no motel
this is a toilet flushing loudly
this is a potent stench
this is the greasiest hair
these are bent backs
this is everyone there everyone
alone this is old men no sons
this is some love then none
this is hot hope done gone
this is a hot weather respite
this is a winter shelter
these are books
this is Gwendolyn Brooks
these are the weathered books
these are the weathered men
this is a lit lantern an ancient
hope a queuing disaster
this is a library
rainy day and wet dog men
5 PM lights out
the men return tomorrow
no doubt
no doubt
What details stand out to you in Waddud’s tour of the library?
Where does she take us in the end? How does she get there?
If you were to open all your senses on a tour of your church, what would you notice? What are the expected and unexpected features? What are the smells? What story of human life and need would you tell? What is not in doubt?
Thinking of the Philippians passage, what are the hardest parts of life not to worry about – as individuals, and as a church board?
How does your church board agenda reflect the everything we are to give to God?
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