Make every effort

We read this Sunday 'I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.'

Last week our diocesan delegates to General Convention met with us clergy to share their impressions of General Convention. One of the things they all seemed to agree on was that this convention was more unified, peaceful, and inspiring than the last two or three. They also said the reason for it was that most of those who disagree with the direction the church is headed have left!

It is terribly frustrating to try to row a boat in one direction when the rowers on the left are pulling and the rowers on the right are pushing. No matter what way the tiller is pointed, the boat goes in a circle.

So in a practical way it's great to be moving forward now. It's wonderful to feel the water slapping against the prow. And great work was done. Work of love, justice, and historic note.

And yet...we are diminished. Had we perhaps worked harder at prayer and listening and creative discernment we might all be moving forward in the same boat.

Perhaps. The odds were always long.

So, God bless those who've left. God give the rest of us grace not to be smug and wisdom to know how to keep rowing in the same direction.