Eventful few days. We are off to view a property in Orkney and ideas of community, prayer, worship, discussion and the practicalities of a move have been filling hearts and minds. We have had a wonderful week with our son at home. It has been tremendous to be a family community once more and enjoy being together and having fun. This has been greatly enhanced by my brother and neices visit last weekend - which reminded our young son of his place in a bigger picture of family life.
We were thrilled to welcome our son's very first SENCO (special needs co-ordinator) from his school to stay. It was a joy to transform a former teacher of our son's into a friend and connect with her at a deeper level; we have the fondest and warmest memories. Now, we are enjoying the company of friends - valued fellow pilgrims who are offering us love, vision and companionship as we create, imagine and re-interpret dreams into possibilities.
My brother was really great to have around - and my neices never cease to amaze me. Creative, original thinkers with a desire to be themselves - I can only admire them and be a little in awe at how well they know themselves and each other. I'm a little envious too that they do know each other so well and feel at ease. My brother and I, with a six year age difference - did not have that level of easy intimacy.
Over recent days there has been much to reflect upon and think through with friends visiting The Sanctuary.
The Orkney property is a challenge and requires us to think outside our box and own comfort zones. I have tried to step back from the property itself which I have fallen in love with, and think instead about firming up the vision of what I see our community striving to become.
I have a feeling of warm energy and excitement each time I rehearse the evolving vision with those who are expressing an interest. I was so excited the other day - talking with two women about caring for animals especially horses (a mutual love) at the community base. I am so thankful that there have been people at each step of the journey to discuss with us and help us to shape the vision through our shared dreams, hopes, some penetrating questions and much thoughtful reflection.
So where are we now?
Well, the vision of what we need as a base is clarifying. The place needs to have a goodly portion of land - probably somewhere over four acres. The land needs to be suitable for grazing and to grow people and plants - as well as sustain some animals. There needs to be the potential for partial development - so outbuildings that can be converted or derelict buildings would be an advantage. The land needs to have an X factor - not just created through clever garden development - but present in the environs too (otherwise Aucheterless would have been an option). The specialness may be focused in the property's proximity to a major conubation. A haven - close to ammenities would be one model - perhaps a large, walled garden; a conservation area - where travel to the place is an important part of the inner journey of the soul - another thought; or a place which has a sense of its own identity - delivered by a redundant Kirk or a certain story to tell in the history of the property - a further way forward.
Alongside this we have discovered that we are struggling a bit with a model of living if it is expressed too opulently in the purchase of some grand scottish house which we actually live in. We are happier with this as a community base and could justify it as such - we give of our best to our guests as a model of hospitality.
We genuinely want to simplify our living rather than complicate it! Residing in the 'big house' doesn't appeal and feels as though it might even potentially get in the way of the overall purpose of this task if we are caught up in maintaining a large property for no other purpose than to provide us with an oppulent home.
A large property would only have an appeal if it is clear how it could be used for the good of the gathered and wider community.
Lastly, it must be a place which has appeal to a wide cross section of people. A place where people will feel comfortable and over time become themselves.
That's the place - now to the people.
We have explored lots of different models with a number of people. I think we are increasingly comfortable with people feeling a sense of personal call and recognising that we, in turn, must provide a space where this call can be further discerned. I think we are feeling less and less concerned on the levels of personality about who and why people would like to come alongside - and more interested in the practical systems that would need to be in place to make life as manageable and enjoyable as possible for all concerned. Whether we get on with people or not feels something of an illusion or transitory emotion. We will get on some of the time - and even most of the time by the Grace of God and through the practice of blessing and forgiveness.
What is much more important to us is that people who feel drawn to this concept feel included and supported as they explore whether this is a possibility for them.
I think I am wise enough to know that however attracted I am to friends and family - I struggle, at the best of times, living with myself 24/7 - so I will have good and bad days with whoever I share my life. I do know because I am human that I get things wrong; and sometimes do not value those I have grown to love, nearly enough.
Community is becoming not a rather precious Christian version of a 'gated estate' but an open, welcoming embracing place to explore and discern. Where the boundaries need to be would be in accepting that for community to thrive there will need to be balance - ages, gender, in partnership/marriage - and in aspirations.
If the community is to nurture those in society as a whole and within the Church, there must be a sense in which we take seriously Christ's imperative that we love our neighbour as ourselves. If we are not taking care of our own needs and having these met in healthy, life-enhancing ways - then we become a needy carer - and it is much harder to be present for another with generosity of heart and spirit when we are constantly looking to see if our needs are being met by the transactions in the relationship.
The base community then, I feel, needs to be a cluster of people who are prepared to take their own needs before God and humanity seriously. They need to be pragmatists who are prepared to own where their own path to contentment lies - or at least acknowledge a willingness to engage on the journey to discover this. As the community gathers, worships, holds quiet, and shares - it will experience the process encapsulated in the Eucharist. Blessed, broken and distributed so that others may find life.
Once a sense of this has been achieved - I feel sure we can begin to be open hearted and minded - and creative in our facilitation of others - and in welcoming others who may feel rather more bruised and battered than we do by the hand life has dealt.
At the moment the idea of parcels of land sounds a good one with common land held as just that.
Alongside this we have come to the conclusion that community would probably operate in practice on four tiers of involvement:
Those who come and live permanently and provide a crucible of mutual engagement to resource, inspire and challenge the Church and Society.
Those who come and live either for longish periods or to discern if they would like to join us.
Those who wish to seek retreat and replenishment.
Those with a connection to community members who wish to stay and visit family and friends.
These are the cornerstones.
Now comes the discernment...
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