Monday September 13, 2021
Flourish
The Rev. Robert E. Stevens, Jr.
There is a lot of talk in our culture right now about remaining sustainable. The environmental movement preaches about sustaining our natural world, the church preaches about trying to keep our communities sustainable (I translate this as “just keeping enough dollars coming in to keep the doors open another year.”) While I am all in favor of remaining sustainable, I do think that our goal both personally and communally could aim a bit higher.
The word that has attached itself to me in my daily reflections is not sustain, but FLOURISH. Think of the difference. For me, sustain has a bit of desperation to it, (which is one reason, I think, the environmental movement chose the right word for it.) Flourish, on the other hand, is more active and positive. Flourish is more than “just hanging in there.” It is about thriving and growing. American Youth Foundation is an organization that own and runs two camps. One is here in NH called Merrowvista (our teenagers go each fall for a weekend retreat and it is also where our Vestry goes on retreat each February) the other camp is Miniwanca and is in Shelby, MI. Their motto speaks to me and this idea of flourishing…”My own self, at my very best, all the time.” Think about it. Could we at SJC adopt this? I think in many ways we have. Yet, fear can creep in and we/I can forget that flourishing is our call and gift.
By many measures our community is flourishing. Yet, how do we continue to nourish this way of being? I need reminders…many many reminders. We are a forgetful bunch especially when it comes to remembering God’s grace is ALWAYS present. The problem is that many times I am the one not present to God’s grace. We get busy or distracted; worry and anxiety take up residence in our lives pushing all else aside. There is no room left for flourishing.
The following are two readings I use frequently to remind me that my work, my life is about flourishing. I share them with you in the hopes that they may be helpful to you…please share with me what your helpful reminders are and may God continue to bless this community of faith that seeks to do good and FLOURISH!
Luke 12:22–31
Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you-- you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
Psalm 92:12-13
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.