HELLO!

Have you heard of Feng Shui? I confess I had never heard of this term until I went to St. Andrew’s United in Halifax. They asked, as their new minister, how I wanted my office to be decorated, what items I needed. I told them all I required was a small bookcase (I have been giving away 75% of my books), a desk, and three chairs, so I could visit with persons in my office. “Anything else?”, they asked. I thought I was being funny, I sent them a Confessional booth from a Roman Catholic church that was closing. It was a large wooden piece, with a curtain and sliding door. The cost was $200. I sent the Office Admin person the Kijiji link. She did not know me, and assumed I was being serious. She showed it to the Property Committee Chair. What to do…Eventually they showed it to Russ, who would soon be my colleague. “That’s just Little, and his strange sense of humour”. Crisis averted. I am sure some wondered about the kind of pastoral care I was planning to offer. I still think it is funny.

Russ loved the expression “Feng Shui”. If you are like me, and had never heard of the term before, it is an ancient Chinese art of arranging buildings, objects, and space in an environment to achieve harmony and balance in a way that will bring peace and prosperity. Apparently, there is a way to organize, arrange, the things in your room, that bring a sense of harmony, peace and balance to your life and work. I am not sure this concept resonates with me, but I do believe there are sacred objects, placed near me as I work, that bring me a sense of connection. My late mother, who loved to hold on to things, would say, “I can’t part with anything, all of it reminds me of people”. I responded, “If it is buried under other things, how can it have this affect?” She did not like this.

Tonight, the Worship Committee were praying and talking over the question of how to arrange our chairs in the sanctuary, in rows or in a horseshoe configuration. Those who like the horseshoe format tell us they like the intimacy, seeing other faces, not just the back of heads. Those who like the rows like the sightlines better, are concerned about lighting and seeing the monitors. The most common reasons given are tradition and familiarity. My sense of the difference rests with whether one finds the Spirit more in intimacy or tradition. This decision belongs to the church, not the ministers. I recall a church where I once preached, the arrangement of the choir loft was different than I had experienced. I asked some of the congregation to tell me about why the change was made, “The minister did that, but we don’t really remember why.” I am certain the minister did explain why, and I have no doubt it was for a good reason. But the fact the church felt it was not their decision and could not recall the reason, speaks volumes about how change gets made. I am about as opinionated as they come, but decisions belong to those who live with the consequences. I will not be here for a long time. These decisions rest with those who will find their “feng sui” in our space.

Peace, Kevin

PS Ruth and Kaitlin rearranged their office. All who visited like this change. Drop in and see/feel for yourself. They would love to see you.