Consider The Daffodils of the Field
One thing I love about Edinburgh is the random flowers that grow during spring time. What was once barren grass becomes a multitude of colours
Now this might not look like much, but it got me thinking this was a good metaphor for Christianity and the future of the Church. If we look at the photo, the daffodils represent the Church/Christianity whilst the rest of the park represents the world that we live in.
The role of the Church/Christianity in the Western world has changed (there is no doubt). People are finding spirituality and answers outside of the traditional framework. If Christianity was the only lens you used, it would seem as if the green of the park is the only vegetation that is growing. It is a largeexpanse , and it seems to dominate the landscape.
The daffodils are springing up when we least expect them. No one knows where and when they will come up. What we know is that they transform the landscape. They do this not by trying to make the grass daffodils. Rather, they do this by being truly what they are. BEAUTIFUL. They change the whole view of the park by radiating beauty.
The reality for me is that things have changed. There is no longer the influence that was once enjoyed in ages past. But, I can go on wishing that the whole park was covered in daffodils or I can celebrate the beauty that is emerging in front of my eyes.
The Church/Christian of the future is about being beauty in the world. It's about being the daffodils of the field. It's about springing to life in the most unexpected places, at the most unexpected times. It's about inviting others to marvel at the beauty that is unfolding in front of them. To be a feast for the senses. To givecolour to the world. It's about inviting a new way of seeing and a new way of being.
If I am honest that is more inspiring than the whole conversation about making people like us. It is more inspiring when you see life springing forth and changing the landscape than when itscomplaining that the park is not how we think it should be.
Beauty is there if we only open our eyes to see it. So I ask you to consider the daffodils of the field.
Recently, I was walking through a park in Edinburgh thinking about the Church's/Christian role in current society. This conversation is of particular importance in the Church of Scotland as numbers seem to be dwindling. I saw this as I walked:
The role of the Church/Christianity in the Western world has changed (there is no doubt). People are finding spirituality and answers outside of the traditional framework. If Christianity was the only lens you used, it would seem as if the green of the park is the only vegetation that is growing. It is a large
The daffodils are springing up when we least expect them. No one knows where and when they will come up. What we know is that they transform the landscape. They do this not by trying to make the grass daffodils. Rather, they do this by being truly what they are. BEAUTIFUL. They change the whole view of the park by radiating beauty.
The reality for me is that things have changed. There is no longer the influence that was once enjoyed in ages past. But, I can go on wishing that the whole park was covered in daffodils or I can celebrate the beauty that is emerging in front of my eyes.
The Church/Christian of the future is about being beauty in the world. It's about being the daffodils of the field. It's about springing to life in the most unexpected places, at the most unexpected times. It's about inviting others to marvel at the beauty that is unfolding in front of them. To be a feast for the senses. To give
If I am honest that is more inspiring than the whole conversation about making people like us. It is more inspiring when you see life springing forth and changing the landscape than when its
Beauty is there if we only open our eyes to see it. So I ask you to consider the daffodils of the field.
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