Today I learned a new phrase that really caught my attention. It comes from Len Hjarmalson’s post, Feeding the Beast. He says,
Go on a unique, unreproducible journey with a group of people…
The rest of the post is important too but that phrase caught my attention. You see I’ve been looking for ways to communicate what we do in Thrive, and will eventually do in Tribe. Thrive has been almost like a lab for learning what it means to follow Jesus in a wholistic way. Tribe will eventually become a missional network for groups that want to participate together.
But it is this journey together in missional community that has been my playground for the last five years. And one of the tensions is that no two groups are alike. Some are slow developing, while others move along very rapidly in their own development. Some break up before they even started, while others find the courage to break through the chaos and discover the deeper side of community.
Yet each journey is unreproducable.
This phrase has so much permission built into it. It speaks of the obvious, yet often forgotten fact that each person is unique in the kingdom of God and has permission to discover God in his/her own way. No two journeys are the same. The intent and destination are the same: participate in His mission so we can discover His restoration and kingdom. The process is even similar: three years in a missional community. But no two paths are alike.
And what I realize now is that God has uniquely built into the journey process what is almost like a trail in the sand. Each footprint from others vaguely remains as an outline, which invites us to follow but to chart our own footsteps that God is calling us to take. We all practice love and trust…in familiar ways in our own lives but in distinct situations.
Yes the steps are similar, but no two steps are alike. Each has its own timing and rhythm. Each has its own uniquely imprinted stamp of God on it as we step forward into the Father’s embrace. Each time someone learns how much God loves is truly unique to them, even though it has happened a million times before. Each time someone discovers their own restoration, it has a distinct aroma all its own, even though that aroma has been enjoyed so many times before.
Much of what we do in Thrive is inspiring people to take that unreproducable journey, to discover God’s path for his/her life. And there is an obvious hesistancy to taking the risk with God in something that has never been done before. We want what works. We want to know it’s going to work before we do it. And much of my journey has been to create a framework for engaging the missional journey. But the real work is participating, to take that first step that is meant exclusively for me.
Part of the tension for me has been in releasing what we do in Thrive back into the hands of God. My temptation is to want to be validated by the success of what we do. And the more I focus on the success of the groups the more it sucks. The more I release the outcome, the more God’s Spirit shows up. Isn’t that just like the kingdom of God.
If you are looking to participate in the unreproducable journey, a journey that is uniquely meant for you, feel free to contact me. At this stage we are primarily loking for leaders who want to take the risk to lead a group of people in that journey. Feel free to contact me with the email in my about page.
Much love.