Cultivate with us.

“Be patient with yourself. But start.”

– Sarah Arthur & Erin Wasinger, A Year of Small Things

“The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the tiniest seed you can sow. But after that seed is planted, it grows into the largest plant in the garden, a plant so big that birds can build their nests in the shade of its branches.”

–Mark 4:31-32, The Voice

Thanks to a lingering cold, I’ve had a sluggish start to the new year. There has been no plunging in happening here. Instead, this year has begun with rescheduling meetings, zero visits to the gym and a vision board that is still awaiting, well … vision. Thankfully, if I learned anything from sabbatical & from forming community, it’s that slow is good, too. In fact, some of the things that matter most take time to root, to form, and to grow.

As we shift from the anticipation that marks Advent, I found it helpful to spend time lingering over what those four weeks leading up to Christmas brought to the surface. We called that season “In the Making” and through the stories shared (thank you, Chris, Deb & Kevin!), we heard about what has been in the making for some in our community.

We heard about how embracing discomfort & turning toward small shifts (vs. attempting big ones) has been both hopeful & helpful. We heard how showing up as an authentic self & honoring limitations has been made possible through the love & trust of community. We heard how growth and healing are happening through medication, therapy, and a supportive partner's love.

So much is in the making. I am struck by how each of these shifts & almost every bit of newness that has come takes a ton of time & struggle & tending & also takes some space to see that it happened at all.

And so it is with any real change or healing or renewal we seek to be a part of:

we must be patient, but we also must begin.

Our Sunday gathering theme in the coming months will be “Cultivate”. To cultivate something involves not only tending to and nurturing it, but pruning, weeding and letting some things fall away & even die. We’ll hear stories about what is being cultivated in the lives of those in our community. We’ll turn to the story told in the gospel according to Mark and listen for what & who & how Jesus was cultivating life. We’ll also make some room for conversation and space to experience contemplative practices that can help us be present and in tune with what the Holy is cultivating here.

I can’t wait to get started or rather, to continue what we started together last Sunday as we gathered in the wild to meditate on these words (“Water the Garden” by Robert Hilary):

Water the garden.

Where your soul plants seed.

Water the roots that ground you.

Water the soil that provides the nutrients for the soul. Water what surrounds you. Water your dreams that take you where you want to go

Water the goals that inspire how you grow.

Water the branches that spread your presence into the world. Water the flowers. The fruits your presence sows.

Water the base, for your foundation to be strong.

Water your soul. Know that you belong.

Water your being. Every aspect deserves your love.

Water is a metaphor for what nurtures and bestows.

Water your blessings. And blessings will grow.

So much seems to be stirring - let’s see what takes root and how we can be a part of much-needed renewal here.

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Check out our upcoming events to stay up to date on when & where we are gathering in the coming weeks.