Making Lemonade
/I’m writing this the morning after our federal election after staying up late last night watching results roll in. Like many people, I’m at least a bit disappointed with the results. With a minority government it will be challenging and we will be forced make the best of it.
I can’t help but think of the saying that when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. That is true with this result and also often times with the church and our CE programs. We can be handed all kinds of “lemons” - volunteers who quit or over-step or arrive late, wounded people who lash out at us, infrequent attendance, budgets that keep getting trimmed, rules and policies affecting kitchen use and other things that feel constricting, and the list goes on. It can feel disheartening and discouraging, so how do we make lemonade from what we are given?
We need to remind ourselves that the church is called to serve and it will never be ideal or picture perfect. All challenges are opportunities for us to not rely only on ourselves but to lean more fully into God and to grow. Bumps in the road force us to re-examine our motives and overall purpose instead of getting too comfortable with the status quo.
As a recurring facebook post reminds me, '“there is always always always something to be thankful for”. We are still incredibly blessed despite the things that make us want to pull our hair out. Look carefully for God’s blessings all around you, from the privilege you have in serving and how God has prepared you for this role to those who accept and support your leadership, the space you have to use, the people who participate and enrich your life, and the story you have to share of your faith.
Look carefully at the issues you’re experiencing. Stop and take a breath and consider how serious they actually are. When people are heavily emotionally invested, small problems can become wildly over-inflated. How can you see opportunity in what appears to be a setback or inconvenience? What learning is there for you and for your program in this situation? How can Jesus be better seen and heard in this moment?
Ask God for clarity of vision and a renewed overall big picture of why you are doing what you’re doing. Return to the bottom line for your ministry, whether that is growing disciples or meeting community needs or something else. If your purpose is unclear, then handling challenges will be more difficult as competing interests cloud your vision. Pray about what God is wanting you to accomplish through this program.
Seek God’s wisdom for how this seeming setback can be used for good. Can the person with the complaint be better heard and their needs met creatively? Can their input be channeled into situations that need their unique perspective? Can a child or volunteer be re-directed to allow them to flourish more fully? Can that maintenance problem push you to have a bigger vision for what is possible with your space? Can a chopped budget be an opening to partner and share resources with others doing similar programs and to build relationships of support?
We are better able to make lemonade when we are rested and well cared for, so don’t neglect yourself. Take the time you need to re-group and refresh. Find someone outside your ministry who is trustworthy and can help you process whatever is going on and see solutions. As leaders, our programs are only as good as our ability to coordinate and offer vision for them from God’s direction.
I hope that you are not overwhelmed by lemons right now, and that if you are that you can take that step back and breathe and sense the Spirit’s guidance. May you not lose hope but know that God cares deeply about what you are doing and will show you the way forward.