Hope and change

I set out to walk one day last week with my son, contemplating “hope” – the theme for December for First U. We heard about it from Josh, we’ve discussed it at Open Circle meetings. As I walked, I noticed this large, old tree on a hill, soil eroded underneath it, holding on for dear life by its roots. That tree has hope, I thought. Hope to survive, somehow. Hope for things to stay the way they once were, maybe. It seems unlikely this tree will last forever – like most things in life. It will fall and return to the earth over years. There are cycles and things change. It’s the same way at church. We hang on for dear life to things we remember and cherish – and then we let go. The energy is focused elsewhere and we need to go where the energy is.

I joined the Board almost 5 years ago – filled with hope for our church. It was the first of what became 3 interim years before we would call a new senior minister. A time of upheaval – a time of change. I had faith that we would come through this challenging time – and flourish. Like the tree, our roots would hold us fast – to our principles, our values. Like the tree, we held on to our past. Like the tree, we moved on with the help of able ministers and leadership. It’s been a great time to be on the Board – and getting better. We’ve worked out some of the kinks of how we govern and are thinking a lot more about our future. Soon, we’ll be looking for people to cycle on to the Board, while 3 people cycle off. More change – new ideas. Ask us about it – you may find it’s just the rewarding experience you are seeking.

Speaking of seeking and hope – after a pretty good walk that took us from Mt. Lebanon Rd through the Brandywine Creek St. Park to Thompson’s Bridge, we decided to turn around and try the Rocky Run trail. According to the map (which we left at home, naturally), it looped up one side of a creek – Rocky Run, I suppose – and then across and back along the other side. As we climbed the hill, the trail soon became a small trickle of water, and then a shallow stream. We stepped from side to side, trying to avoid the obvious mud holes, and finally came to the point where we followed the trail down the hill to cross the creek. Hmm – no bridge. And the rocks were far enough apart that I was not willing to risk falling in with my precious camera. So – on we went, back up the hill, sure we would find a better place to cross. It was quite a while – and we found ourselves at a farm (later found it on the map near the corner of Woodlawn Rd and Thompson’s Bridge Rd). Back into the woods – over the creek at a safer place. Over another branch of the creek. Talk about hope. I was definitely hoping to find the “blue” trail that would lead us home.  Sometimes we meander through the unknown – and we find our way through, and out the other side, with new knowledge and new memories of our adventures. I like what Martin Luther King has to say about hope... "We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope." 

Safely at home, after hiking three and a half hours, I was definitely ready for a rest!

 

In faith,

Nancy