United Church of Christ Swimming

We have treasures in jars of clay. – 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NRSV) 

Any suggestion of fixing a constructing, or transferring the situation of the thrift store on a church campus, or eradicating the pews, or constructing reasonably priced housing—something that hints of change to sacred bodily house—will trigger a fuss.   

These fusses distract us from “going deep.” Instead, we go shallow. We stroll on the shore as an alternative of swimming. Why don’t we simply soar? Do we concern the water shall be too chilly? Usually, as soon as we soar, the physique normalizes its temperature, and we get pleasure from our swim. Sometimes, although, we don’t soar in. We don’t get pleasure from. Fuss cements us up to now. Fuss delays swimming. 

Jumping in lets previous and current embrace. 

Molly Baskette, when put in at First Church, Berkeley, stated: “I will not provide stability. I will provide instability.” The church put up reasonably priced housing after one among their buildings burned down. John Lewis spoke of “Good trouble.” Instability is nice hassle. Without it, we neither develop nor float. 

Malcolm Gladwell says that his greatest recommendation is “to hold our ideas lightly and softly.” Experience, like swimming, can change us. 

What does Jesus imply when he speaks of treasures in clay jars? He means common temporality. All issues materials can break and ultimately do. No jar lasts; it’s a treasure for its time being.  

Ellsworth Kelly’s “Totem” on the Blanton Museum of Art in Texas is an immersion in mild that’s recurrently, eternally, completely different each day. Stained glass preparations make the house regularly new as the sunshine shifts. Visitors who wander inside are swimmers by means of the depths of coloration, at all times navigating the brand new. 

Prayer
Teach us, Most High, to be newly mild each day. Make us prepared for Easter. Amen.

About the Author
Donna Schaper is an interim Pastor on the United Church of Gainesville, Florida, and writer, most not too long ago of Remove the Pews—first out of your theology, then out of your constructing.