The Sustainist

Discerning Your Call

Last Thursday, my good friend, Bill Cruse, was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church.  He would say that it had been a long journey with some difficult and sometimes frustrating twists and turns and I am grateful to have been part of his amazing journey as a friend and mentor. 

Bill’s journey reminded me of my own discernment process which was, as it should be, not easy, with rejections, self-doubt, and amazing support from insightful friends and mentors.   When I was 21, a mentor, who had the notion that I might be struggling with discerning what I was called to be or do, told me that there were at least four steps to the discernment of one’s ministry (any ministry, not just the priesthood.) 

1. Pray – regular prayers cultivate your relationship with God.
2. Listen to your trust friends who will tell you the truth about yourself even when you don’t want to hear it.
3. Know your strengths and gifts.
4. Know your pain and struggles (your inadequacies, limitations, weaknesses).

I prayed regularly and I had a circle of trust friends who would tell me the truth, so I was doing okay with the first 2 steps.  While I was also pretty good at naming my strengths and gifts – I compose music, I am a good thinker, I am a good listener, I observe and learn very fast, I am a good planner, I can get things done if I put my mind to it, I am blessed with a loving family, etc. – I had been avoiding my pain and struggles up to that time in my life.  When I followed my mentor’s advice and embarked further on this journey of discernment, I discovered that the fourth step was the most important because it was through facing my pain, limitations and inadequacies that God pointed the way for ministries.

Some of the limitations caused me to work to overcome them.  For example, as an immigrant who had to learn English in a very short time in order to survive and get into college, I know my English skills was not good enough to do anything involving the art of public speaking and writing.  Yet, as I explore deeper into this weakness, I discover that I did have a lot to say and, with perseverance, I learned to be a good communicator and not worry about whether I was speaking correct English.  I also worked hard in learning the art of writing and eventually became a successful author of many books.  I also learned to get help – I had a good friend, Kent Steinbrenner, who was a trusted friend and a copy-editor for my writings before I published them. 

The pain of rejection was always present in my experience as an immigrant, Chinese American and a gay man.  When I was in denial and avoided facing these struggles, I was also avoiding knowing who I was.  Without a strong understanding and acceptance of myself, I was lost without a clear purpose in life.  As I entered into a deep reflection of my pains and struggles, I realized that I shared these pains and struggles with many who were rejected and disadvantaged in the world because they were different: gender, age, sexual orientation, language, ethnicity, skin color, etc.  With this realization, I discovered my call to ministries—to create gracious environments where no one is being disadvantaged because of who they are.  And I chose to realize this call through becoming a priest in the church. 

Why would I want to create inclusive communities in an institution called the church that had not done very well in being inclusive?  In fact, the church had been part of the system of exclusion in the past.  Perhaps I want to challenge the church to do the 4-step discernment process – to pray,  to listen to the truth-tellers, to know its strength and gifts and most important of all, to know its pain, struggles and limitations, so that the church can discover anew its call to ministry in the world.

The Spirit of the God is upon me,

Because God has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.

God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

(Luke 4:18-19)

Don’t forget to join me this Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at 2 pm EST (11 am PST) for a Livestream Conversation on my new book Holy Currency Exchange.  You can RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/1264895013537091/

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: February 29-March 4, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Tool for Inter-group Dialogue and Racial Reconciliation KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training May 4-7, 2016 Greenfield, NH Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Associates Conference (by Invitation only) www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for Third Sunday after Epiphany (Year C) Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6, 8-10   What is the role of Holy Scriptures in faithful community? Psalm 19   How does God’s commandment give light to the eye? 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a   What did you learn from this text about sharing your gifts in community? Luke 4:14-21   What does it mean to proclaim the year of God’s favor today?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org                

Holy Currency Exchange

My new book, Holy Currencies Exchange: 101 Stories, Songs, Actions, and Visions of Missional and Sustainable Ministries, is finally in print and e-form.  When you read the book, you will recognize that many of the stories, songs, visions and activities were first shared in The Sustainist blog.  Now you can have the fruit of the last 3 years’ Sustainist in one volume.  This volume can be used as a hymnal for music ministers, a workbook for trainers and educators, a sermon resource for preachers, and a year-round stewardship program. 

To celebrate the launch of the book, there will be a sale on all my books on Kindle:  $3.99 each until January 26.   And we have scheduled a Livestream Conversation with me on:

Tuesday, January 26 at 1:00pm in CST

You can RSVP HERE

The wonderful Rev. Jacqui Lewis, Senior Minister of Middle Church, New York City, will be joining in on this conversation.  This is what she wrote about the book:

“I am a huge fan of the mind and heart of Eric H. F. Law.  He has offered the Church a special lens through which to look at the blessed challenge of building multiracial, multiethnic, multicultural communities of faith that genuinely honor the gift of diversity.  I have had the pleasure of listening in at conferences and other gatherings in which Eric tested the power of Holy Currencies.  The practical collection of stories, songs, actions, and visions that are gathered in Holy Currency Exchange are a pastor’s dream.  Here is where the giftedness of an artist, excellent listening skills, and a nimble mind have been combined to share stories, poetry, music, and practical tools and exercises that can transform our ministries.  Each clergy should have this on her shelf.”

I look forward to you joining me on January 26 and explore how this resource can empower and enrich your lives and ministries.

“Holy Currency Exchange is steeped in faith, busting with creativity, and culturally rich.  This volume will assist any missional faith enterprise to connect to the blessings that will position them to be used beyond their wildest imagination.  Eric H. F. Law is a gifted giver of gifts.  He is a gift.” —Bishop Gregory Palmer, West Ohio Conference, United Methodist Church.

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: January 18-22, 2016 Chicago, IL Gracious Leadership Training Community Transformation (Part of the D. Min. Program of Bexley-Seabury Theological Seminary) February 29-March 4, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Tool for Inter-group Dialogue and Racial Reconciliation KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training May 4-7, 2016 Greenfield, NH Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Associates Conference (by Invitation only) www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for Second Sunday after Epiphany (Year C) Isaiah 62:1-5   What new name will God give you? Psalm 36:5-10   What did you learn from this psalm about living in abundance? 1 Corinthians 12:1-11   What gifts do you bring to create a faithful sustainable community? John 2:1-11   What did you learn from this story about sustainable transformation?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org                

The Dialogue Song

After I wrote the blog post last week, I sat at my piano and began playing with words and melodies.  Pretty soon, a new song emerged.  It is about the process for reconciliation through dialogue.  I am sharing the lyrics here.  I hope to share the music at a later blog.

The Dialogue Song
If God loves me
And God loves you,
What happens when we disagree?
What are we gonna do?
What are we gonna do?

If I listen to you
And you listen to me,
In between your words and mine,
We may hear the Word of God divine.
If you walk with me
And I walk with you,
In between my way and yours,
We can find the sacred path
That leads to many gracious open doors

If God loves me
And God loves you,
What happens when we disagree?
What are we gonna do?
What are we gonna do?

If I see what you see
And you see what I see,
In between your view and mine,
We may see the view of God’s design.
If you know my fears
And I know your fears
In between my fears and yours,
We can build a place that’s safe
Where justice reigns with grace and not with wars.

If God loves me
And God loves you,
What happens when we disagree?
What are we gonna do?
What are we gonna do?

Meanwhile, my new book, Holy Currencies Exchange: 101 Stories, Songs, Actions, and Visions of Missional and Sustainable Ministries, is finally in print.  As part of the launching of the book, there will be a sale on all of my books on Kindle:  $3.99 each until January 26.   Also there will be a Livestream Conversation with me:

Tuesday, January 26 at 1:00pm in CST

You can RSVP HERE

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: January 18-22, 2016 Chicago, IL Gracious Leadership Training Community Transformation (Part of the D. Min. Program of Bexley-Seabury Theological Seminary) February 29-March 4, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Tool for Inter-group Dialogue and Racial Reconciliation KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training April 7-12, 2016 San Francisco, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies Incubation of New Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training A Bilingual (English-Spanish) Event May 4-7, 2016 Greenfield, NH Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for First Sunday of Epiphany (Year C) Isaiah 43:1-7   How do you work with God to comfort those who suffer? Psalm 29   How or where do you hear the voice of God? Acts 8:14-17   What does it mean for you to receive the Holy Spirit? Luke 3:15-17, 21-22   What does it mean to be baptized by the Holy Spirit and fire?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org