One of my pastor friends has been at the same church for almost 20 years. When he arrived at the church it was experiencing a slow decline. You would never know when you walk through the doors today! The church is alive with people of all ages, including the “missing generations” in most churches comprised of those in their 20’s and 30’s. Not only do you see all ages in this church, you also see more ethnic diversity than in most Presbyterian churches as well as theological diversity. Though my friend and his church are rarely spoken of and certainly not being written of in every church magazine as the lastest, greatest success story, they might just be one of the churches growing most quickly with younger members. Perhaps the reason they have not been featured as a success story is that the pastor is gay and they warmly welcome into all aspects of their church life anyone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. They are not identified primarily as a “gay church” (I have yet to figure out what that means), but experience lovely diversity of all kinds.
When I talked with my friend about how the turnaround happened and what has led to their exciting renewal of life and energy, he seemed fairly certain it had to do with the intentional substitution of one word for another. He animatedly talks about how when he arrived at the church, they were stuck in their thinking. The word “scarcity,” though rarely used, was at the heart of their thinking and acting. They were focused on what they did not have and what they were slowly losing. He decided he needed to help them refocus so he introduced the word “abundance” to them. He began to point out all of the places and ways they were experiencing abundance. Over time, they began to be less afraid, less cautious, and less stingy. Over the years, they have been able to live into the abundance they now see and experience and they have learned beautifully how to share their abundance and invite others to participate in it.
Two little words, scarcity and abundance, have been at the heart of the transformation of an entire church. Yes, I know, it’s as old as the hills, the idea that we live our lives looking at the glass half empty or the glass half full and which ever way we see it determines so much about us. But, I find it compelling to hear the story of an entire group of people who, by shifting their focus with the help of their leader, have been transformed.
It’s too bad this great church has not been featured by the church magazines that love to write about church success stories. It’s too bad the major newspapers don’t pick up their story. They have something to say to all of us in the midst of this election season that on its best days is depressing and on its worst days signals the end life as we know it. Imagine what would happen if the leaders of our country would shift the focus from scarcity and begin to focus on abundance. Imagine!
At the very least, you and I can daily attempt to shift our own focus. Most of us have not experienced the kind of scarcity that we fear so deeply. Most of us worry so much about keeping hold of what we have that we have never been able to experience the abundance. Do you want to join me in beginning to live from a place of abundance? Are you ready to be transformed?