Piloting Faith: Fix everything but change nothing...
A Word for the Day...
Vision is the art of seeing the invisible.
Jonathan Swift
You may have heard the story of a man who came across three masons who were working at chipping chunks of granite from large blocks. The first seemed unhappy at his job, chipping away and frequently looking at his watch. When the man asked what it was that he was doing, the first mason responded, rather curtly, "I'm hammering this stupid rock, and I can't wait 'til 5 when I can go home."
A second mason, seemingly more interested in his work, was hammering diligently and when asked what it was that he was doing, answered, "Well, I'm molding this block of rock so that it can be used with others to construct a wall. It's not bad work, but I'll sure be glad when it's done."
A third mason was hammering at his block fervently, taking time to stand back and admire his work. He chipped off small pieces until he was satisfied that it was the best he could do. When he was questioned about his work, he stopped, gazed skyward, and proudly proclaimed, "I am building a cathedral."
The bigger your vision, the more magnificent your life could be. Most of us want to fix everything but change nothing. We want to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks but still eat whatever we want and move as little as possible. We want to build the great cathedrals, but we don’t want to work with the architects, buy the supplies, or carry the massive stones. Our vision may be grand, but our application is half-hearted, fearful, and impotent.
Becoming something or someone exceptional is not an accidental undertaking. No one accidentally builds a magnificent cathedral. No, we intentionally decide to do these things and then undertake the preparing, planning, and training to make them a reality.
How are you spending your life today? Are you angrily chipping at rocks? Are you molding rocks waiting for the day to end? Or are you building a cathedral? Your answer will tell the world how great you wish to be.
- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight
Blessing for the Week
Blessed are we: the chalice-lighters of resistance, justice, love, and faith.
Blessed are we: the heretics, the outcasts, the walkers of our own way.
Blessed are we: the border-crossers, the refugees, the immigrants, the poor, the wanders who are not lost.
Blessed are we: the transgressors, the trespassers, the passers-by, the cause-takers, the defiant, the compliant.
Blessed are we: the hand-extenders, the sign-makers, the protestors, the protectors.
Blessed are we: the trans women, the trans men, the non-binary, the cisgender, the multigender, the no gender.
Blessed are we: the friend, the stranger, the lonely, the hidden, the visible, the authentic.
Blessed are we who rise in solidarity, blessed are we who cannot, blessed are we who do not.
Blessed are we for this is our Beloved Community, and this is who we are.