Those of us on the Program Planning Team had a sense that this would be a good event. And as the one who put most of the logistics together, I also thought it would be fun. Little did we/I expect what the reality would be!! The Spirit managed to take what we had put together and turn it into an event that few of us had even imagined! We are grateful!
Perhaps it had to do with low expectations. Having never done anything like this before, most of us didn't know what to expect ... but decided to 'take a chance' and come anyway.
Perhaps it had to do with high involvement. Virtually all of our classmates had a leadership role at some point during the Gathering ... in addition to a goodly number of our spouses. Our experience in ministry has led us to affirm that when the Reformation conviction about the priesthood of all believers undergirds our modus operandi, the Spirit seems to take off.
Perhaps it had to do with the setting, surrounded by the beauty of the desert and the efforts and prayers of our gracious hosts.
Perhaps ... perhaps ....
Each of you have other reflections as well. The Program Planning Team is planning to gather at a not-too-distant point in the future to mull over your reflections, look over the written evaluations you completed, your blog comments and other input. We'll then come back to you with our Team reflections and thoughts about when and where we might have our next Gathering ... with the prayer that others of our class might be able to join us.
Shalom!
Tom
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Gathering Pictures
There's that train whistle again! Are those horns growing out of the conductor's head???
Triple Trouble
I am curious if anyone would like to think about the impact and source of the wonderful cathartic laughter on Wednesday night? Where did that come from? My thoughts: Dave Mullen is a master at leading but not controlling, we were tired and emotionally drained, a very high level of respect and trust had developed, and 'geezerdom" just sounds funny. Did the struggle with prolepsis of self have any impact on the moment.
ReplyDeletePeace to all and indeed, thanks to the effective planners.
Bruce,
ReplyDeleteI affirm all of the possibilities you listed, with particular interest in the "prolepsis of self". Perhaps that played a considerable role in the humor: a theory about humor and jokes is that the laughter arises from the absurdity of the human condition and our frequent folly--taking ourselves way to serious. Hence, there was a vision of the glories of the Kingdom in contrast to our "geezerdom." But the divine is also in the laughter. I hope others will respond. Dave Mullen