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Grace and peace to you, from God, the Creator, who loves us with a transforming heart. 

On Sunday, September 7th, we celebrated 175 years of ministry at Broadway! How amazing it is to think we are a small part of a long legacy built in Christ’s love and acceptance as we step into the next phase of Broadway’s ministry. We remember our past, as it has allowed us to be who we are today. And now, we are looking towards a new dawn as we center ourselves in the Spirit and explore how She may be leading us. 

It’s exciting, isn’t it? 

And…

we also acknowledge the questions and the emotions of uncertainty, discomfort, and fear that inevitably arise when beginning a new journey. These are expected and necessary. They arise within us to crack us open so we may examine ourselves and our patterns to see what keeps us from the possibility of transformation.

A couple months ago, I heard a story that invited me to reflect on how I get in the way of my own transformation. Maybe more specifically, how my stubbornness and attachment to my habits and past experiences get in the way of what God is wanting to transform within me. Ooof. That’s hard to admit to myself. Yet I wonder if you can relate.

So here’s the story:

Acornology

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there was a kingdom of acorns, nestled at the foot of a grand old oak tree. Since the citizens of this kingdom were modern, fully Westernized acorns, they went about their life with a purposeful energy; and since they were mid-life baby-boomer acorns, they engaged in a lot of self-help courses. There were seminars called “Getting All You Can out of Your Shell” and “Who Would You Be Without Your Nutty Story?” There were woundedness and recovery groups for acorns who had been bruised in their fall from the tree. There were spas for oiling and polishing those shells and various acornopathic therapies to enhance longevity and well-being.

One day in the midst of this kingdom there suddenly appeared a knotty little stranger, apparently dropped out of the blue by a passing bird. He was capless and dirty, making an immediate negative impression on his fellow acorns. And to make things worse, crouched beneath the mighty oak tree, he stammered out a wild tale. Pointing up at the tree, he said, “We … are … that!”

Delusional thinking, obviously, the other acorns concluded, but one of them continued to engage him in conversation: “So tell us, how would we become that tree?” “Well,” said he, pointing downward, “it has something to do with going into the ground…and cracking open the shell.” 

“Insane!” they responded. “Totally morbid! Why then we wouldn’t be acorns anymore.”

 

(This story originated with Maurice Nicoll in the 1950s. Jacob Needleman popularized it in Lost Christianity and named it “Acornology.” Cynthia Bourgeault retold the story in her book, The Wisdom Way of Knowing.)

 

As a tangible way to examine these words, I invite you to bring this short story into your time with God. You may follow these steps or choose your own, if you already have ways of bringing your awareness to the present moment.

So…  Let’s begin!

Find a quiet place and begin with a short time of silence. Notice your breath. Noticing your breath is a way to remind yourself that you are already present in this moment. Receive an inhale… release an exhale... Repeat as many times as you need until you feel fully present.

Then, ask the Spirit to reveal to you what is yours to hold today.

Pause for a moment to listen.

Read the story once through. 

Pause for silence and to rest in the presence of the Spirit. 

Then… read a second time. This time, notice any words or phrases that “shimmer” or tap your attention.

Be in silence with the Spirit, exploring those words or phrases for as long as you feel invited. I encourage you to be in the silence for longer than you would comfortably choose on your own. Be open to what may arise! You might be surprised. I find it helpful to journal what arises for me - maybe this is true for you as well. Allow your imagination to also be present!

Once you are finished exploring, offer a moment of gratitude to the Spirit and to yourself for this time together and for the wisdom you’ve received. This provides a way to seal this intentional time of listening.

I would love to hear what insights surfaced for you in this practice! Feel free to send me an email or stop me when you see me in person. 

Blessings to you as you continue your journey.

~ Aliyah