The Hunger is Out There...
I spent the past two days at a conference on Spiritual Formation sponsored by my old seminary, Gordon-Conwell. Here are some observations:
*There were probably 250 participants.*I'd guess that the median age of those attending was around 47.
*There seemed to be more women than men.*They seemed to come from a broad range of evangelical expressions (Liturgical, Charismatic, Non-Denominational, Baptistic, etc.).
*They seemed to come from a pretty broad spectrum of socio-economic places geographic locales.
*And here is my number one observation... the hunger for something real and deep and true and living was burning in the hearts of those present!
Now, here is my less than scientific data. I had lunch with two different pastors (one whom I have known for a while and one whom I just met). Both are from New England (and you can't get much more traditional than this region of mine). They both expressed that what they were hearing about the contemplative life, spiritual disciplines, sabbath-keeping, spiritual formation, spiritual direction, et al. was striking a major chord in them. No, that's too lame a description. The spark in their otherwise drawn faces said something like, "Didn't our hearts burn within us...".
One said, "I'm candidating at a church. I'm going to tell them that my ministry will be a contemplative ministry." Now that's quite a risk. The other said, "I don't know how I can do this but we (his congregation) need this." Another big risk (trying to introduce the deeper life to a bunch of comfortable New Englanders).
God is up to something. He is bringing many to the liminal edge. They feel the pain and see the hope of something new... they are just not sure how to get there. Join the club.
Blessings, Mark
I spent the past two days at a conference on Spiritual Formation sponsored by my old seminary, Gordon-Conwell. Here are some observations:
*There were probably 250 participants.*I'd guess that the median age of those attending was around 47.
*There seemed to be more women than men.*They seemed to come from a broad range of evangelical expressions (Liturgical, Charismatic, Non-Denominational, Baptistic, etc.).
*They seemed to come from a pretty broad spectrum of socio-economic places geographic locales.
*And here is my number one observation... the hunger for something real and deep and true and living was burning in the hearts of those present!
Now, here is my less than scientific data. I had lunch with two different pastors (one whom I have known for a while and one whom I just met). Both are from New England (and you can't get much more traditional than this region of mine). They both expressed that what they were hearing about the contemplative life, spiritual disciplines, sabbath-keeping, spiritual formation, spiritual direction, et al. was striking a major chord in them. No, that's too lame a description. The spark in their otherwise drawn faces said something like, "Didn't our hearts burn within us...".
One said, "I'm candidating at a church. I'm going to tell them that my ministry will be a contemplative ministry." Now that's quite a risk. The other said, "I don't know how I can do this but we (his congregation) need this." Another big risk (trying to introduce the deeper life to a bunch of comfortable New Englanders).
God is up to something. He is bringing many to the liminal edge. They feel the pain and see the hope of something new... they are just not sure how to get there. Join the club.
Blessings, Mark
posted by Barnabas | 11:36 AM
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