Give Focus to Faith
We really do have a great community. We also have some amazing outdoor spaces. While enjoying them, I think we have all personally experienced navigating through tight trees, rock gardens, over and under obstacles. What’s interesting is it only takes a few times of focusing on the rock and then hitting the rock to remember where your attention goes, so your body follows. We live out that timely advice of needing to look where you want to go, not at the obstacle you don’t want to hit all the time. And we are experiencing it now in real time in society. There is an “obstacle”, “a thing”, real and serious, it’s almost impossible not to have it in front of you. Every news feed, email, post, there it is in bold letters, starting the conversation with a mild spike of anxiety. When it is front and center, when it is the only thing I focus on, I will run straight into it and experience all of its destructive feed of fear, anxiety, isolation, selfishness, and protectionism. However, I’m tired of it getting my focus, I won’t give it power. I won’t say its name, I won’t allow it to form my emotions as I head into conversation. Please understand I’m not dismissing or diminishing the seriousness of it, however, it doesn’t get to dictate my emotions or conversations or what’s truly important in life. And I’m sorry but I will not give voice to something that moves people in the wrong direction. Instead I want to focus on the “things” behind the “thing”, give those things voice and attention. I want my focus to be on faith, not fear. Faith in God, faith in our community, faith in the genius of people working hard to provide care and a way through, around, behind this thing. I will give voice to the wonderful life-giving people I am working with in my community. Thank you! Thank you for going beyond to set up the structure of support, compassion and connectivity even in the midst of physical isolation. This is where I want my focus to be. I mentioned in our letter to the church community this past week that as a community of faith, people who look to the life and teachings of Jesus as their example to live, we want to default to “Service over Selfishness” “Preparation over Panic” and “Community amidst Isolation.”
And this is why I love my community. We’ve been seeing these attitudes popping up from our businesses, community centers and individuals throughout the community. It is great to see, it is great to have that to focuson.
There are a couple practical areas we can turn our focus toward. First, please consider being a “Neighborhood Shepherd” make a txt or email group of those on your block. It only needs to be your block. Some of you already have a group which is good, if not, start one up and virtually check in with everyone. Make sure everyone is taken care of.
Know the resources, there is a Bragg Creek Area Community Support FB page that looks to partner needs with people and resources. We also fall under Cochrane’s support circle, so there are a lot of resources through them, however both Redwood House and Bragg Creek Community Centre have access to a lot of different resource, information and the local food banks.
If you’d like info or to donate to food bank/crisis fund please reach out.
Until next time, keep well and do good.
by Pastor Dave Zimmerman
www.braggcreekchurch.ca
