Getting Unstuck
by Ircel Harrison
In her book An Altar in the World, Barbara Brown Taylor writes, “If you always do what you have always done, then you will always get what you have always got.” There is a very human tendency to develop and then pursue a routine. This is not in itself a bad thing, but it can become burdensome and restrictive when we suddenly realize that things have changed, and it is time for us to change as well.
Many clergy leaders found themselves forced out of their comfort zones when the pandemic struck. Most found a productive balance but then things changed again as churches tried to gather in person again and find a “new normal,” or at least something that passes for normal until the next disruption comes along.
Perhaps it would serve us well to intentionally step outside of our comfort zones from time to time rather than to be pushed there. It could be a transformative experience. What are some actions that a person might do in order to get perspectives on life and ministry? Let me suggest several ideas.
Read something that you don’t normally pick up. If you usually read devotional books, look at biography or science fiction. If you normally read prose, try a book of poetry. During these days of rising temperatures and ecological disaster, I have been reading The Ministry of the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. It is not about ministry but is science fiction with a deep dive into environmental issues and their underlying economic causes.
Do things that make you feel uncomfortable. When you immerse yourself in unfamiliar environments, you start to get an idea about how displaced persons feel. You discover how people adapt to changing environments. Try an ethnic restaurant that you have never frequented. Taco Bell doesn’t count! Visit an Indian, Burmese, or Thai restaurant that is a family business and get to know the owners.
Take a course online or at your local technical college. Online services like Coursera, Acumen, Udemy, and EdX offer a variety of easily accessible courses at little or no cost. You can learn about art, music, psychology, web design, and programming among other things. I have taken a couple of courses related to resilience and positive psychology that enriched my skills as a coach. I have minister friends who have taken courses in plumbing and electrical work. These skills come in handy around the house (but don’t let your parishioners know what you can do, or they will have you making repairs at the church).
Find a place to talk to people with whom you have nothing in common (or at least think you don’t). You might volunteer at a local community ministry (not just as a board member), join a bowling team, or sign up for a book club (in person or online). In such settings you will find both commonality and diversity.
You will come up with other ideas, I am sure. Solutions to complex problems that arise out of social, economic, and cultural change will never involve just one mode of thinking. Too often our ability to engage these changes is limited by our own experience. Venturing out into new territory will provide you with more confidence, new ideas, unexpected resources, fresh points of view, and expose you to some new ways of thinking. Give it a try!