Six Months to Shore
Six-months ago today we had our first full day in Ireland. We left Charlotte on the 20th, arrived in Dublin on the 21st, and woke up on the 22nd to our first full day of this new chapter.
We have seen some beautiful country and walked along amazing trails. We have started finding routines of groceries, meals, school, worship, work and life, yet I am not very patient.
Somehow, I feel like I’m still waiting to arrive. I’m not quite sure what I mean by that, yet it feels true. It feels a bit like Downpatrick’s Head (pictured here) - It’s part of Ireland, so close to the mainland you could almost reach out and touch it, but not quite there… and the chasm in between feels daunting.
How to close this gap? How to make it to shore?
There are some good things happening with ministry. Courtney is doing an amazing job of meeting some clergy and some congregations and coming alongside them as they engage ministry in ways new to them. Courtney has preached a few times and, no surprise, everyone likes her energy and her way of leading worship.
I feel I’m still trying to find my stride. I’m working to try to get a grasp on the breadth of this 5-church circuit. I’m working to try to understand the way Methodists in Ireland gather, worship, serve, etc. I’m working to try to understand distinctiveness among Methodists from various parts of this circuit and across this island. A whole lot of new shelves I’m building in my understanding to organize this information. I need to have patience with myself and with others while I’m in this time of arriving yet still wanting to get things organized to keep things going, moving, growing…
Through all of this, we know that God is with us. I know that I can pause, pray, trust. I pray this three word prayer often throughout the days. “Alleluia, Hosanna, Grace.”
Alleluia - praise the Lord
Hosanna - help us, save us
Grace - well, what else is there to keep us afloat and going but God’s grace. “Only by the grace of God go I” comes to mind.
I wonder how you might feel like you haven’t quite arrived yet - to wherever that might be.
Maybe “Alleluia, Hosanna, Grace” might help you like it has helped me.
Hey Dan,
Your post reminds me of a inspirational presentation from march’s National gathering of American pilgrims on the Camino. Adam wells of London and Kathy Kehe of Denver spoke with us about liminality. They called it the “fertile void” . That’s what I’m hearing in your post. You are experiencing So much change now. Liminality is that corridor - a Way- . From here to there.
In Camino speak maybe you are in the meseta in spring with red poppies and yellow fields. And as you know on the Camino pilgrims climb the hill , look back to remember and give thanks for just how far they have come , then turn around and take those next steps toward…