Retreating forward

By Bob Hulteen

“My name is Bob and I am an extrovert.” (Did you respond, “Welcome, Bob”?)

I am happiest at work when I am working with colleagues on a shared project that will make a real difference in the real lives of real people. I don’t mind long hours; I even love them when we are engaged in a tough campaign against entrenched forces that marginalize people. I think it is my spiritual gift, in fact.

Well, COVID-19 has really messed that up. You probably are experiencing that as well.

“We read from Joel, were reminded that ‘to dust you shall return,’ and prayed together — for each other and for our congregations and leaders.”

Now, surprisingly, I am not struggling much over the quiet of working alone – whether in my home office or at the workplace. But, encouraging my colleagues and being inspired by them, I miss that. I miss the community. In fact, I guess it would be honest to say that I even grieve it.

Sometimes when I grieve, I get grumpy. Sure, isolation is part of it. But, even more important, I think, is the loss of shared purpose and direction, of work that makes me part of something bigger than myself.

 

TODAY THE SYNOD STAFF had a half-day retreat. It’s a chance for us to think about goals met and unmet, of plans for 2020 that are unfulfilled. Our 2020 vision started with clarity, but eventually we could only see through “a mirror dimly.” And I want to be “face to face.”

Of course, we couldn’t be together. But Bishop Ann was determined to make the day productive, innovative, and fun. We met via Zoom, though we still shared pastries from Butter Bakery (a good Lutheran-owned business in South Minneapolis) that could be picked up from the office fridge at staff members’ convenience. We did talk goals and plans, but also reminded each other (and “newish” staff members Madeline Troyer, Norma Malfatti, and Nick Tangen) about our “strength finders” and “enneagram types.”

We read from Joel, were reminded that “to dust you shall return,” and prayed together — for each other and for our congregations and leaders. We used Zoom – breakout rooms even (though we didn’t use the polling function, which really disappointed me).

“Over the next few months, our Twin Cities community will be confronting the challenge of court verdicts and corona variants, … but at least we can do it together.”

We also used Menti to create a word cloud around our synod mission statement. (Don’t mind the fact that “pizza” is bigger than “Jesus”; it was an staff inside joke.) Most of us had never used the Google Jamboard platform before; we loved being able to use Post-It notes again, placing them carefully across a timeline, looking for intersection between our various responsibilities.

And, we even spent a bit of time playing Pictionary online. (I don’t want to talk about that anymore, … because I got robbed. Don’t you think “angry” is close enough to “anger” to count for at least half?)

Here’s my point. I’m feeling a little better, a little more connected, a little more “on game,” a little more part of something bigger than myself. I feel a bit more of a sense of community. And, it’s easier to believe in the “already, not yet.”

The Divine One is ready to meet us in ways we recognize. For me, it’s through community. And, today, I got invited to feel the touch of the eternity. Renewed, I am ready to enter the Season of Lent, even knowing that our community will be confronting the challenge of court verdicts and corona variants, … because we can do it together.