A Delicate Dance

I’m later writing again because I have been caught up in my denomination’s national annual meeting. I’ve been watching some of the sessions live and some after the fact. The worship has been inspiring, the work immense and all done online, with technical glitches gradually ironed out.

It has been an incredibly delicate proceedings with our first gay Moderator at the helm and challenging issues that continue to threaten to divide us. We’re diverse in race and ethnicity as well as in stands on a variety of theological and doctrinal points. People have gone to great lengths to not offend while still honouring their own views and concerns. Peace and calm have been offered and at times restored.

It all reminds me of the delicate dance of the Trinity, as we head into Trinity Sunday this weekend. The three equally important parts of God’s being, as understood in the Christian faith, are wildly different - the creating Parent God, the human-divine Son of God sent to walk with us at just the right time as the living Word and the Spirit gifted to us and giving us breath have all been since the beginning of time. They have been held in tension at points, and at times have let another of the trio shine brilliantly while holding themselves back. They have communicated in unique ways and comforted and guided us.

Some of us relate more to one of the three than the others and we find ourselves best in that aspect of God’s being. And yet even if we are drawn to one, all three are necessary. We would not be able to experience that one we cherish most if the others were not there fulfilling their purpose and supporting the others. All three offer us a different gift and perspective.

As I pray for the churches in my denomination and wonder what the impact will be of decisions made in the last few days, I pray also that we remember the Trinity. The glorious diversity of God is on full display in how the holy is made known to us, in how we can access that grace, in how we have experienced what can only be called a divine appointment. God is not one colour, one language, one version of worship or understanding of scripture or structure or polity. God thrives in diversity and wherever love abides.

We can hold each other’s value even in our difference, even if we find that like Paul and Barnabas we better serve the mission we have been given by going our separate ways. We are all still needed by God. Our words and views and understandings will resonate with someone who is searching or suffering. We all remain children of God, tasked with learning and living humility and pointing to Christ and not religious structures that may or may not serve us well in this moment. As we reverently tap into God’s inspiration, Jesus’ example and the Spirit’s wisdom, we will find our way.

May grace, healing, peace and hope abound as the decisions made in these days are lived out.