You In a Sentence
Sometimes Scripture gives us an entire life in a sentence. A person appears briefly in the biblical story, and the few words used to describe them become the way they are remembered.
The Rewards of Setting a Messy Table
By Rita Bergsma | January 19th
As I read the news each morning, I wonder about what is to come. News reports and subsequent social media posts have resulted in a rise in divisive thinking and factions in society; broken relationships abound on a global, national, and community scale as ideologies take root and people struggle to see value in the perspectives of others. Conflict is all around us and our classrooms and parking lots are not immune to conversations that divide rather than unify us as Christians in community and in the Kingdom of God.
As leaders, fostering and developing relationships, and also teaching our students the importance of doing the same within community, is profoundly important. Community is innately built into who we are created to be and is expressed in our families, churches, and schools. It is foundational in creating places of belonging that become ‘home’. In Genesis 2, God states, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." In so doing, He set the stage for the ensuing development of ‘the table’ that welcomes others to gather, share, laugh, and play. It is a place to discuss life’s complexities and forces us to explore deeper conversations about who we are created to be. Our tables need tough conversations that draw us to dig deep into God’s Word.
Unfortunately, today’s tendency appears to be one that limits who comes to the table. Political views, interpretation of Biblical perspectives, and personal choices have become reasons to isolate and separate, limiting who is invited to gather. It appears that humanity has become inward and self-protective, rather than striving to learn to love our neighbours as ourselves.
My thoughts keep going back to a presentation made by Dr. Richard Mouw several years ago in which he described “…our purpose as first to glorify God, and then in so doing, to behold.” Dr. Mouw described the act of beholding as a kind of seeing guided by the light of Christ’s love and the truth of His words and actions help us design and set our tables in order to bring deep meaning to love. He continued by asking, “Do we, can we, lead our schools and teach our students to behold all people as God’s works of art, albeit shattered and broken.”
Dr. Mouw expanded on how we can become better at welcoming deep and open dialogue: convicted civility, although challenging, encourages us to learn from others as we grapple with life, ideologies, and theologies together. These postures can assist us in respectful conversation as we treat others with “gentleness and reverence.”
Dr. Mouw underscores four key postures that allow us to develop deeper conversations as we grow and learn from others:
- A posture that seeks understanding and being truthful about what others believe – Curiosity and inquiry can provide insight into what others truly believe as we develop the practice of asking versus telling. This is important to root out the misconceptions, perhaps even idols, that might be unknowingly ingrained in our own beliefs. Judgement of others can run deep and become pharisaical in nature preventing our willingness to wonder in the light of Christ.
- A posture of spiritual preparation for conflict – We are required to ‘go to war’ with our own preconceived notions, to grapple with our own perspectives as well as that of others. In Psalm 139, David beseeches, “Search me and know my heart. Try me, test me, and know my thoughts. And see if there is any wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting.”
- A posture of seeing people through God’s eyes, as works of art created by the master artist – This requires us to listen, observe and wonder. It involves approaching others with a willingness to learn more about God through the voice and experiences of others.
- A posture of humility – The posture of David in Psalm 139 is one of praise that God, as our Creator, knows each one of us inside and out. It calls us to a place of self-evaluation to encourage a deeper relationship with God.
I have always loved art, and it is through the practice of techniques that I have learned to enjoy creativity in art as a hobby and a space of play; I have much to learn. The practice of seeing people as works of art, created by the divine artist, draws and invites us into a space that implores us to ask God, “What do I need to learn from this individual?”
Christ’s table welcomed a variety of people from diverse backgrounds. It was messy, and often not what others expected or wanted to see in a rising leader. It was countercultural and a place where the imperfections of humanity were on display. Christ’s table changed the lives of many and is still doing so today. Are our classrooms ones that invite our students to listen, learn, and play as they discern at Christ’s table?
Rita Bergsma is the Seaway Valley Cohort Leader for Edvance, and Principal at Community Christian School in Metcalfe, ON.