Re-engagement

Hugh's article teases us with his mix of journey and belonging, desert dwelling and returning from the desert, disengagement and re-engagement. It leaves open a crucial question that many people ask. This question is: Having left church and gained so much personally from a protracted time away from the frenetic activity of church when is it ‘right', ‘possible' or ‘necessary' to re-engage? By re-engagement means being involved not simply visiting a Christian church or community. Of course in answering this question we need to remember that everyone is different so there is no simple answer. And we often not only need to consider our selves but also our partners, children and teenagers in our decision to re-engage. Despite the complexities of differing personalities, journeys and family members there may be a rough guide that we could consider.

Let me suggest it is time to re-engage, right to re-engage and necessary to re-engage when we have the energy and the internal desire to contribute into the faith lives of others. Of course ‘church' may not be the vehicle for our contribution but often a church community is one site for our future contribution. While we may primarily nurture our own spirituality from the desert we need to re-engage with others in order to contribute. To grow we must give. Erickson calls this ‘generativity'. It is the stage in our faith and life where continued growth is dependent on the giving of ourselves to others; the stage where we live for others out of who we are. Where we give out of the identity and spirituality God has led us into.

Let me also suggest that many individuals in our churches are waiting for people who have traversed the deserts of faith. They are waiting for those who have journeyed far and wide to encourage them to also journey beyond safe moorings. Such re-engagers make great leaders in any church community.                                              

Alan Jamieson