Stewart 5

A bunch of us attended the Institute for Urban Ministry’s Bi-Annual Consultation this past Wednesday- Friday.  Lots of great people, speakers, and conversations.  Perhaps what sticks out most to me was the devotion that my friend Wilna de Beer gave on Friday morning.  She talked about courage, referring to the story of Jael in Judges 4:17-23.

I won’t recount the story here (but do look it up).  I will, however, repeat (paraphrase) Wilna’s points on courage (my comments in italics):

1. It is the ordinary things that prepare us for the extraordinary events.  How many of us seek training, being with the “right” people, etc. to prepare?  Or, how many of us just want to do the “big things” without the difficult or MUNDANE preparation that comes day in/day out over years?  I think of how Melissa, by loving and raising our kids, is developing and using skills that are nothing less than extraordinary.
2. Deliverance often comes from unexpected sources.  Hear that one pastors?  Hear that one men?  Hear that superstars?  History is not made by great people.  They just seem great in retrospect  (I just made that up).  Props to everyone who is overlooked.  You have a better chance of being used by God to change the world than I.
3. We need action, not just words.  Stop making plans and do something.  Think as you go.
4. Be willing.  In the end, this is all God asks and needs.  Are you wiling?  Are you?

I believe most leaders are leaders simply because they do something.  What is God putting on your heart?  Please do it.  Do not be afraid.  God is with you. God will never leave you nor forsake you.

May it be so.

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This past weekend, our NCSA leadership team took our annual retreat. This time away, we did something quite different from past retreats…. we did pottery. We all went to the home/studio of a married couple who are local pottery artists. Basically, we ate, did pottery, and rested. It was a great weekend - being together, having fun, relaxing.

Of course, God seems to have taught me several things at the same time. This morning during a reflection time, I realized that one of the things God is speaking to me was captured so well in a picture from our weekend.

When you do pottery using a wheel, the first and most important thing to do is center the clay. If you don’t do this properly, you can not make a piece. Period. Because the clay is spinning on a wheel, any unevenness or off-centered-ness results in either a lopsided piece, or it will simply fly off the wheel because of uneven weight. Literally. I’ve seen it happen

To center clay, there is only one thing you must do - push with the heel of your left hand. You push diagonally: away from you and left to right. This works with the spinning of the wheel to put the piece in the center.

All weekend, I struggled with this one step. Why? Because I never wanted to push too hard. So, I continually had to ask the instructor to come and help. He patiently put his hands on mine, and reminded me to push - hard. And of course, with his hands there on mine, the clay went right to center. And when it is there, you can feel it - it’s just right. Then, the fun of creating pottery begins.

Why don’t i push hard enough? Ironically, this is question God and I are discussing. Why don’t I ask hard questions more often? Why don’t I express my feelings, particularly when I am upset? My general approach is to do/say/give as little as possible to get the job done. I suppose I don’t want to overdo it. The problem is, 8 times out of 10, I UNDER do it instead. And then things aren’t centered.

You have to push…hard. of course, I don’t take this to mean I should be rude or overbearing. I still must be listening to God and loving. But I am learning - slowly - that you can do these AND push hard. And when you do it right, when things are centered, beautiful things can be created. Apparently, God really wants me to learn this lesson, because He is giving me ample opportunity to practice.

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