A Community That Offers Space.

“A community that offers space” - that’s a tag line we like to use at Wellspring to describe ourselves. By it we mean we give people space to question, doubt, search etc. without being in their faces. We give them space to be themselves and journey at their own pace. On most days the line is probably more a vision of our preferred future than it is a reality. Last night at our discussion group however, the vision became reality. Last night there was honesty, openness, transparency – and people listened. One person shared his/her distaste for most things “Christian”. Another person shared his/her desire to change the world while not being overly excited about God. A person shared his/her unquestioned faith and deeply held beliefs. Another person shared passionately an interpretation of a particular scripture passage. Diversity of thought and opinion was clearly evident. There were moments when the air was tense. There were moments when everyone squirmed. There were moments when no one knew what to say.

We’re so tempted to preach. We’re so tempted to try to “fix”. We’re so tempted to get angry, to be offended, to disengage. We’re so tempted to go somewhere where everyone sees things the way we see them. But this is community! This is a community that offers space! I hate it, oh but I love it!