Welcome to this conversation

Something New Is Being Born - Episode 2: Carrying Now this is inconvenient. This new thing has moved in and is taking over. This isn’t just about babies. This is about the idea, hope, possibility or necessity that finds its way into your life and whether you are an inventor, artist, parent, or just a plain regular person - you know right now that you aren’t going to be able to leave this alone. And while you don’t know who or what this new thing is going to be someday, you can tell that things will be different - forever. Sound familiar?

Episode 2: Carrying

If the present season of pandemic, political, social and personal change are making you uncomfortable, perhaps it isn’t because the world is falling apart, but because something new is being born.

This week we are looking at a second stage of new things being born: carrying them, or gestation, pregnancy, call it what you will. Our 3 guests share insights from their experience that help us take what is within us and among us, and carry it during this ‘already, but not yet’ period.

Kate Clarity - Urban Farmer, Settler and Mother

Consider this: “One thing I love about gardening is that something always works. I try to have a diverse group of plants that I grow from different plant families and some like it hot, some like it cool, some thrive in drought, some thrive in excess water. So I try to have a little bit of everything so that even if it is a bad season for tomatoes it might be a good season for kale, or cabbage or broccoli. I try to be open to the possibilities and understand that not everything is going to do well. I never have a season where everything does well, but I never have a season where nothing does well.” 

How does that perspective help you prepare for what may come from the uncertainty of this ‘gestation’ period we are in?

Kate also reflected over the challenges and heartache she and her husband had over conceiving and trying to carry a child to birth. If you are dealing with similar grief, or the season is making you feel loss or isolation, we invite you to a virtual gathering with Spiritual Director Patricia Brenneman. She will help us explore the sacred territory of grief where we can honor and work with the pain of our particular losses, together, without needing to make it “all better.” Thursday, Dec 17, 6:30-8pm  More info and Sign Up at www.fabricmpls.com/goodgrief

Caitlin Cich - Education Social Policy, Mother of 3 of Greg’s grandkids!

With the help of some music from Tim Frantzich’s Christmas album we played with the wonderful and exciting side of the expectant waiting of pregnancy, and the “OMG! What did we do and what’s happening!” side of it. 

Consider this: You have had both reactions to the new ideas, hopes, possibilities, challenges that are hidden inside you, maybe hardly acknowledged yet. How do you hold both the exciting and scary together to keep you grounded and from giving up. Think of a particular instance in your life.

These are about the only words in the Bible about Mary’s experience carrying Jesus. Yes, they are a bit ridiculous to imagine coming from a teenage, 1st century, expectant mother, but that’s just how the Bible tells it - not probably what it was actually said. But assuming that it is the sentiment, not the words, that are on target, what table turning and greatness do you hear Mary voicing about this thing that she will bear, but never possess or control? Carrying something greater than ourselves is something each of us do!

The arm of the Lord, of Yahweh, I Am Who I Am, has shown strength

and has scattered the proud in the imaginings of their hearts.

I Am has brought down the powerful from their thrones, 

and lifted up the lowly.

I Am Who I Am has filled the hungry with good things, 

and sent the rich away empty. Luke 1.51-53

Bill Stenross - 4th Grade Teacher and Father

Bill sees his 4th graders as being ‘in utero’ for their birthing into adulthood, or at least teenagehood. He works with the eagerness of 10-year olds to figure things out for themselves, and their need to still be nurtured and ‘carried.’ 

He also amazed me with his ability to not just see a positive side to online school but to adapt to it and look down the road, after this pandemic gestation, when school may have been disrupted enough to better meet the needs of all kids, particularly those who have been marginalized. 

Consider this: 

Do you have kids doing online school? What’s messed up, what’s better?
Is your life and work disrupted right now? What’s worse, what’s better? 

Most of all, what can we build together out of this all? 

If you are wondering where God fits into this, spend some time with these ancient words of wisdom that Israel gleaned about such times as we are in now.

Do not remember the former things, 

or consider the things of old.

I am about to do a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? 

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43.18-19 (NRSV)

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