Visions and Dreams

Last weekend we had a wonderful guest minister for our 187th anniversary who preached about humility and how the pandemic has certainly humbled us. This week I’m preparing for my last Sunday as interim worship leader in my home congregation. We’re finishing the returning from exile series with the prophet Joel.

This transition of leadership has been a long time coming. Our new minister will lead us well into the future, a future that involves rethinking how we do church as many continue to worship from home. There’s nothing like change to humble us and to remind us that we aren’t the only one who can do things, and that our way isn’t the only way. Each of us, like Esther, are called to certain things by God ‘for such a time as this’ and then things shift when we’ve fulfilled that calling.

I’m excited for this new beginning at my church and praying that I have paved the way for as smooth a transition as possible given the complexity brought on by the pandemic. The promise of the Spirit being poured out on the people in Joel 2 to inspire them with new visions and dreams speaks to us in this time of challenge and change. While these words are usually used at Pentecost, when Peter quotes them to the fledgling church and gathered curious crowds, they still speak to us in this season as the church is reshaped.

God promises to renew and revitalize us, to rejuvenate and redirect us in the right paths. As we continue to emerge from the haze of lock-down life, the future remains unclear and full of questions. We can get stuck in the what ifs and worries rather than opening our minds, hearts and souls to receive what the Spirit wants to pour into us. A new order is indicated here by Joel - male and female, young and old will all receive from God, not just old men in a patriarchal society. Each generation will be a gift to the others. Blessing and abundance will return and the time of barrenness and locusts devouring everything will be gone.

The precursor to this newness and re-setting of God’s people is repentance. Joel 1-2 says that they are to fast, weep and mourn, and return to God with all their heart. The Spirit’s gifts come to those who acknowledge their dependence on God and how they have strayed from honouring their Creator. We too are challenged to think of how we have left God behind in the last year and a half, perhaps blaming or deciding God left the building for this to happen. We may have thought we could do this on our own or allowed our focus to slide to our own comfort and safety while downplaying our faith and caring for others.

We will have new visions and dreams, but we need to be ready to receive them, with hearts that are uncluttered and restored, and hands reached out acknowledging our need. We can receive both individually and collectively as a community. And our dry wilderness can once again flourish like a well-watered garden.

Most people don’t like the word change, but is it a constant. And with change comes opportunity and growth and greater awareness. God has much for us to do so that our lives honour our neighbour and the One who calls us to serve. May we be ready and willing to hear each other’s visions and dreams and to celebrate that God freely gives them to us.