Fearless Faith

A small independent college, Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill, lists as one of its educational values ‘unhurried excellence’ according to a recent article from Alban at Duke Divinity School. Alban asks how we can build “unhurriedness” into our schedules, particularly during the season of Advent, noting that we sometimes confuse being busy with getting things done. It is true for individual businesses as much as it is for churches.

The implications are real for nearly every aspect of our lives. None of us are at our best when we are faced with a steady diet of ceaseless long hours, impossible deadlines, and resultant strained relations with family, friends and peers. Well and good, we say, it is all a part of life and living. But in these unprecedented times when economic uncertainty accompanies us alongside social unrest and political badgering, is it any wonder there results an overall sense of being overwhelmed? Does it make sense to focus on filling our schedules even more tightly, imagining that a packed calendar will signal a way out of pandemic concerns and a return to traditional church?

We are not very good at protecting ourselves, in part because we believe that if we can just return to “normal” then all will be well. If that is our belief, then it is time to rethink the equation. Slipping back into traditional norms and ways of doing church is problematic in the long run, an uncertain refuge. Can we look at the pandemic and all that accompanies it as an opportunity to come to grips with broader understandings of The Divine and the roles we play?

Catholic theologian Richard Rohr likens this awakening to “aliveness” in our faith, a sense of awareness and openness that looks beyond self and mortal conviction. Aliveness challenges many foundational assumptions that we have previously been content to embrace, believing them to constitute our work in the church. Too often they become a hindrance to real spiritual growth in Christ.

The opening of Cynthia Langston Kirk’s poem “Stripped by God” challenges us to greater aliveness. “What would happen if I pursued God — If I filled my pockets with openness, Grabbed a thermos half full of fortitude, And crawled into the cave of the Almighty, Nose first, eyes peeled, heart hesitantly following, Until I was face to face With the raw, pulsing beat of Mystery? What if I entered and it looked different than anyone ever described? What if the cave was too large to be fully known, far too extensive to be comprehended by one person or group, too vast for one dogma or doctrine?”

As people of faith we have barely scratched the surface. How might the institutional church perform if it were to embrace unhurried excellence as an intentional value? It would take some getting used to in the short term but in the long run the church might realize a far greater benefit than it currently owns.

There is much more to Advent than busy schedules and events. We know that yet we resist seeing it any other way. Let this be the Advent that opens eyes, hearts and yes, clears schedules.