Challenges
Image: The wee 'un. Great company, but not good for business
When I set up this blog I suggested to Friends that they contribute little and often. Over the last few days I have come to realise just how busy everyone is. There's so much happening that it's a wonder anybody has time to write anything. Two bust laptops and a broken video camera have also been something of a challenge to me.
One thing I've realised is that to attend YMG as a participant, work and look after a young family is a bit much. I'm having a great time now, but only when I realised that I can't do all three properly.
My youngest likes her "new school", but only half a day, so that's me or my partner out of the picture half the time. It's been nice to spend time with the wee 'un. Being among Friends has meant that we have never been short of company and I've been happy for the wee 'un to be further out of reach than normal. All good, but it makes participation hard.
I enjoyed the Gorman lecture - Simon is a great speaker. Thought-provoking stuff. He asked us to consider whether we should continue to be an all-inclusive social club in an attempt to keep up our numbers or whether we should nail our colours to the mast, define our identity clearly and ask God what he wants of us. Our breakaway group was not happy. Some of us felt our belonging was being questioned and all of us felt that our desire to be inclsive was being challenged.
Pam Lunn's lecture was rather frightening. It impressed upon me the urgency with which we need to address the issue of environmental damagage. It pulled no punches.
A Friend ministered in an earlier session that mother nature will have balance and that we are really facing the challenge of saving our species rather than saving the planet. There's also been ministry about the tough personal decisions we must face to live more sustainable existences.
There's a huge challenge of making large changes to the behaviour of countries, governments and capital. Gulp!
As the week has gone on I have heard many voices and opinions and these have helped to shape my thoughts. I have clear ideas and strong feelings, but I have not been prompted by God to express these. So that's all they are - my thoughts.
How will I feel at the end of the week if my thoughts and feelings aren't reflected in the minutes - what if, in my heart, I think they are wrong. Will I be able to happily take the corporate decisions and own them as mine?
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