Randy’s February 2010 Update
Transparency:
Recently, around sixty 20something Missional Community Hub leaders and their team members went on an overnight retreat at an amazing log house in Wisconsin. The topic for the weekend was Transparency (Transparency with God, self, and others). I was invited along to listen and pray with anyone desiring an older person’s presence, especially if the talks and exercises stirred up difficult things that needed to be shared and brought into the light, that maybe they weren’t comfortable sharing with their peers.
What Was Holding Me Back?:
Before the weekend, I was debating whether I would go on Friday night for the whole retreat, or drive up separately, joining the group on Saturday for the full day. I’ve been on retreats like this before and I knew that when you get sixty 20somethings together overnight, sleep is not high on the agenda. I was pondering how many days afterwards it would take me to recoup from one overnight “retreat”!
As I prayed about it and listened, I sensed promptings that I was supposed to be there for the whole retreat, Friday night as well as Saturday. I wasn’t to let the possibility of lack of sleep deter me. My excitement began to grow as I sensed some divine nudges. What’s going to happen at this retreat, I wondered, specifically on Friday evening?
Who Shared What?:
On Friday evening, Devon Noonan led us through an exercise of identifying things that we really like about ourselves (yeah!). Then she guided us into considering the parts that we don’t like about ourselves (ugh!). Could we bring the parts we don’t like about ourselves to God? Could we allow those parts to be loved? We then had an opportunity to bring all the parts of who we are to God.
On Saturday, Tyler Grissom talked about building transparency in community. How do we make our communities safe places for people to bring all of who they are into a loving setting where people can find presence, acceptance, affirmation, truth-telling, and forgiveness? We had the opportunity to share in small groups some of the things we personally keep hidden (Yikes!).
Jon Peacock shared part of his journey/struggle around separating his worth (identity, value, and lovability) from his performance. His performance may go up and down with successes and failures, but his worth is secure and constant in God’s love, never in jeopardy, no matter what he does, what he has, or what people think of him.
Living It Out:
The leaders shared vulnerably.
One of the things I deeply love about this group of Y- generation people, that I have the honor to work with, is their raw honesty. I’ve been involved in church my whole life, and I haven’t previously seen the levels of honesty that this group of people reaches. At best people may share something that they’ve already overcome, but what about being honest in the midst of the struggle, long before any overcoming has occurred, when one looks messy, weak, and vulnerable, when one could easily be judged and rejected?
Throughout the weekend, I was privileged to watch people (especially Tyler Grissom) live out what we were talking about. I had the opportunity to pray with some of them and get to know more of their stories. I was and am continually inspired and challenged by them.
The Weekend Was A Success:
From the opening session on, I sensed God’s hand at work, opening people up to redemptive transformation. I had some amazing talks with people in tender places throughout the weekend, especially on Friday evening. (I’m so glad I followed the promptings I felt about attending the Friday night session. It was a gift to be there. I’m glad I didn’t miss out.)
Did I get any sleep? Surprisingly, I did. How? Ear plugs! What a great invention! From what they tell me, the last group of energetic leaders didn’t get to bed until around 4:45am! Though I didn’t get the amount of sleep I normally need, I somehow felt energized the whole retreat. I attribute it to being lifted up in prayer.
Prayer requests:
The weekend gave me opportunities to move toward some possible future mentoring relationships. You can continue to pray for discernment around those possibilities.
Thanks for holding these extraordinary leaders in your prayers. Please continue to pray for the next generations and our efforts to bless them and bless our world.
In His Love,
Randy
Kyle Get’s Engaged!:
A special shout out to my nephew, Kyle, and his new fiancée, Stacy. They recently got engaged! They’ve been dating for six years, since high school prom. Stacy already feels like family, having been around for years. Soon it will be official! Yeah!
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