I attended church this morning for the express purpose of attending the Core Council meeting, and participating in the decision to close down our small congregation at the end of this month. I'd not attended for the past six weeks, where I'm usually a weekly regular, due to a variety of circumstances. And I'd not had time, due to those same circumstances, to read through the epistle of e-mails pertaining to the church's financial condition languishing in my inbox. I do know that our situation, our energy, our need to have a 7 day space instead of just a Sunday AM space has been much on my mind lately as I drive around the Eastside, observing empty store fronts, thinking about the money we spend in rent for just 4 mornings a month --- musing that there must be a way that the the energy we put in could be banked for us, a repository where we and others are reaping ongoing instead of isolated benefits on our physical and energetic investments. I knew there had to be a way, but I was just not seeing it, and I admit I wasn't looking forward to this afternoon's conversation.
As things developed, however, on Friday, the opportunity to share space with some like-minded groups manifested. What was a choice between shutting down completely or continuing as a study group without a minister suddenly became an opportunity to share a beautiful space which, while not ideal as if designed for us, gives us an office space, a real bookstore space with 6 day per week access, worship, classroom, and concert space at substantially less than our current rent. We could do better than break even, re-establish our savings and building fund, and be visible in a larger way in our community. We'd be on a main road, in the middle of bustling activity, with signage. What I felt was going to be an emotionally wrenching meeting and choice - and day - turned into something simple and uplifting. While I'd not seen the space, it seemed only right to put my faith in Spirit, in my friends, in my community, and move forward into this new form, into this unexpected change -- into our own small miracle. I think the hardest part was believing that a solution to what has been three or four difficult years could appear so suddenly, at exactly the right moment.
So, change --- in location, in energy, in how we interact as and with a community. The new energy that the place generates -- and that we bring to this whole idea of ourselves as a group. And the miracle -- the building that I went down to see straight from church. A lovely space -- smaller, but in so many ways nicer and more welcoming than any of the spaces we've inhabited. As they are open on Sunday afternoon, I went in to check out the tea shop and was greeted by the nicest people, and a comfortable space that invites peace and inspires conversation and sharing. Apocatastasis - something good is happening in every moment, despite appearances.
I'm big on quotes -- I love them. So I went looking for one for today, for this surprise of a silver lining in a big dark storm cloud of "difficulty." And how appropriate that it comes from Napoleon Hill.
"Opportunity often comes in disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat."
Napoleon Hill
And while looking for that, this one asked to come along..."Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure."
Napoleon Hill
So, I say again............miracles........
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