yeah... two years plus and counting. That's about how long it takes for us all to figure out that there simply isn't any way for a church community that inhabits the sphere of reality to match up to the one that inhabits our hopes and dreams.
Two years plus and we begin to see that yes, we all hurt each other. We all disappoint one another. In fact, it's tough to spend any time at all in close proximity to someone, and not be disappointed at some point. Two years is more than enough to learn that...
More than enough time to find out how tough it is to put yourself out there to a community and not get the response you'd hoped or wished for, even if that response might have been perfectly reasonable... or unreasonable as our expectations often get.
Two years is a long time to hang in there, whether we're right in the thick of things, or hanging back on the fringes... whether we're trying hard...or not. Just long enough to set in stark contrast the differences between the church of the mind and the church we actually create.
Not thinking of anyone in particular- I promise. Just praying for our community as a whole tonight. Feeling the need- like there's some choppy water around the corner. Praying for patience with one another, for longsuffering with each other's faults, even those of the people with the title of pastor or elder. Praying for hearts that love the Body of Christ, even with its rough spots and see that facing this life and all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune is always better with community, and so that community is worth working for, praying for and sacrificing for... even if it lets us down and disappoints us.
Just praying...
Bob, I'm one of your "silent" readers, but this one hit close to home. My last day at the church where I've been a youth pastor for five years is this Friday. I could substitute 5 years for your 2 years and the outcome would be exactly the same. I'm leaving on good terms...but man, there has been a lot of hurt and disappointment.
I'm leaving to go plant a church just 25 minutes away (Charlotte, N.C.). Of course, I have many hopes and dreams for the new church, but I carry w/ me the "experiences" of what I just went through...and I know that in two years...what you've written here, will be true.
I'm still hopeful. Not for a Eutopia called "church"...but for a measure of faith, hope and of course, love. Thanks for sharing this...it grounds my hope in the right place.
Posted by: fr'nklin | June 28, 2006 at 05:05 AM
Congrats on two years, Bob (and everyone else @ Evergreen)!
BTW, is your feedburner feed messed up or is it just my reader?
Posted by: Dallas | June 28, 2006 at 01:26 PM
Thanks man!!
I think it mugh be your reader... it looks okay to me. Anyone else having problems with the feed?
Posted by: bob | June 28, 2006 at 02:53 PM
uh... "mugh" ???
Man, I'm tired.... :)
Posted by: bob | June 28, 2006 at 02:54 PM
Looking back on my church planting experience year two was where it got hard. The newness had worn off and expectations had set in. In addition to that I was working a full time job and felt a lot of pressure from the denomination we were affiliated with, from the core group, and from the 30 to 40 people who regularly attended. I'll admit much of the pressure was probably self induced but it was there.
All of that to say...I'm praying for you and the community known as evergreen.
Okay...I'm done...I hardly ever post in comments and I've already done two here today.
Posted by: Scott Bridwell | June 28, 2006 at 03:09 PM
thanks scott... yeah. prayer is good :)
Posted by: bob | June 30, 2006 at 02:08 AM