A couple of weeks ago Mark Humphries – Winnipeg artist, spiritual innovator and community curate – emailed me regarding how I might define ‘relationality’ within the rhythm of community gathering. Mark’s email, alone is a testament to his generosity… I would travel to “My Home and Native Land” to hear him respond to this question, and here he is asking me.
Maybe that’s why I’m having a hard time putting words to this. So Mark, I’m not avoiding you, or the question. I’m just not sure where to begin.
I think the word “define,” has been throwing me for a loop. And I don’t think I have a sufficient definition at this point. I remember hearing a student of Colin Gunton once say that Gunton describes the work of theology as searching for the “least inadequate words to describe God” . . . so in that spirit:
Relationality within the rhythm of gathering seems to have something to do with choosing to “walk with” in the everyday stuff of life.
Day in and day out, to walk with, not walk ahead or walk away. The gatherings seem to be almost an excuse to relate, like a date on your calendar, it’s just one of the times when “we get together.”
Increasingly I hold the activities of our “gatherings” to be less important than the “being together” – providing the sense of “who” unites us is held in common. The unique aspect of corporate gathering is not song, art, teaching or public prayer, but is, at least in part, the simple fact that “we” are gathered together. It is our collectiveness that is the chief act of worship when we gather.
When I say “collectiveness” is our chief act of worship I’m not saying, that if we just toss a gaggle of Christ-followers in a room worship magically happens. However, when a Christ-follower chooses deliberate connection, in spite of differences, as opposed to separation, or individualization, that is worship. To choose to walk together is to die to self; it is to place the “Other” and the “Us” ahead of “Self.” Isn’t this what Christ does on the cross? This is what we do each and every time we choose relationship. Death to self for the sake of the Other, and the Us.
This is reciprocated truth in our relationship with God, and in every human interpersonal relationship.
This is one reason why duration of relationship is important. It’s always easier to bail on a relationship or a community when things get tough. It’s infinitely harder to die to self for the “other” and the “us.”
So I guess what I’m trying to say is that ‘relationality’ is the rhythm of community gathering. The gatherings mean little the community (with each and God) means everything.
I’m in process on this one.
Peace, dwight
