I've been thinking a lot lately about the roles we all play in life. More specifically, I've been thinking about how we have moved from a body of believers where I knew exactly what my roles were, to the more organic church plant situation where I don't really have a clue yet. It has me a little off balance.
Now, I am NOT saying this is a bad or negative or anything like that. On the contrary, it's fresh and exciting. I realize it's just a part of the deal as the whole plant moves forward and finds it's own role in the community. But it has been a challenge to go from the known to unknown when it comes to knowing my role. And I knew when we made the decision that this would be one of the challenges.
How do you handle situations where your role isn't (yet) defined? Do you even like a defined role or is ambiguity how you skate through and stay off the field?
Just a quick and dirty to let you know where my mind has been. Back later with more posts. I have some stuff brewing...
Ohhh - this resonates so much with me. Leaving SF to move out to a small town really rocked my world. It felt very unsettling as if the floor fell out from under me. I remember trying to assert myself in a role that no longer fit making for an even more awkward situation. I can recall acting desperate like I was grabbing at straws in a panic to find my role. And finally (although it is still a continuous process that I crawl toward slowly) I see the importance of simply trusting the Lord to use you as He will whether he leads you down a path you have gone or not, even when He places you in a situation you may have never chosen.
Posted by: kristine | October 12, 2007 at 10:53 AM
Rich, I've been praying about the same thing! I'm excited about the challenge and the things that we will all learn on this journey!
Posted by: Rebekah | October 12, 2007 at 02:27 PM
Rich, wow. I was in a new church plant for a year without knowing my role. I now know it. I won't reveal how that whole journey affected me since I've yet to reveal it on my own blog! However, let me say, that it has been an amazing time of self-discovery and clarity about who God made me to be. I believe this will happen for you. See ya soon, I hope.
Posted by: franklin | October 12, 2007 at 05:11 PM
Sometimes not having a particular role is God's way of getting us away from what we think we should be doing and into what he wants us to do. Like the others who have posted, I am in a bit of a transition myself and trying to figure out just what God wants me to do.
Ain't it fun?
Posted by: Fred | October 16, 2007 at 09:22 AM