I'm on a month long sabbatical from my church right now. I wanted to finish and post some works-in-progress during these few weeks.
I had most of this written months ago. I don't know why I didn't finish it.
Anyway, here it is now.
I received two messages from neighbors in the community asking to talk about helping our vulnerable neighbors post-Trump’s inauguration and immigration plans.
I don’t know where to start on that work.
I told them that.
They still want to meet.
Six years ago (!) I was approached about helping our houseless neighbors by building housing.
I didn’t know how to do that work.
I told my friend that.
He still wanted to meet about it.
When I first started as a lead pastor, someone wanted to talk with me about her addict children and how to help them.
I didn't know anything about addiction.
I told her that.
She still wanted to meet.
I was obviously always going to meet with these folks.
But I worried that I wouldn't be able to help.
My ignorance didn't really matter, though.
I'm not here to singlehandedly save everyone.
I'm not here to fix everything by myself.
Honestly, I'm probably not going to fix anything. Most of the things I try are probably going to fail, at least in the first few attempts.
But that's not really the point of getting together to try and make right what's wrong in the world.
Knowing there are other people who care about bringing justice to the world is healing and encouraging.
And my ignorance becomes less ignorant when I work alongside other people.
These folks asking me to get together and tackle some of the biggest issues Portland faces aren't because they necessarily think I'll fix everything.
But I'll be there with them.
And we'll work together.
That's the point.
(These are the feet of a guy who wishes he knew how to fix all of the problems but doesn't)