Month: June 2024

I ended my time at Synod 2024 by reading a farewell to the CRC. I spoke with my pastor, and my sister and I worked together to crystalize the wording. It was a moment we had seen coming yet had never imagined being here. Those are the most unusual moments in your heart!

There was such clarity, so the sorrow was not in saying goodbye. The sorrow was more significant in that today’s Christian Reformed Church was no longer the Christian Reformed Church we had grown up in and come to love. In the future, the Church differed from the Church of the past. That seemed clear to everyone. The division centered around churches’ various positions on gender, sexuality, and marriage.

It was not about whether one approved or disapproved. It was about much bigger things. It was about whether Church discipline is implemented, if repentance is mandated, and whether Salvation is at risk.

To that end, I read the following. I share it here because it is an essential piece in the journey to my heart. It is also because my blog is my story for my nieces and nephews and their children and their children’s children.

Grateful to God for clarity and courage,

❤️trish

This is an odd blog title for me. I don’t often start with something like that. But these words are not mine; they have guided me in the last weeks.

As I prepared for Synod 2024 in the Christian Reformed Church, I knew there would be difficult conversations. If they were only difficult, I would be okay, but they had the potential to be so much more than difficult. They had the potential to be divisive.

I prayed for clarity for the week of Synod. I prayed that God would bring peace to my heart and confidence in knowing where He was calling me to stand for His Church.

As the week started, I was overwhelmed by the unfolding clarity. I went to a meal with my Mom on Saturday night (we started Friday morning) and shared with her, “I don’t think there is room for “us” (our family, our affirming Churches, those who believe differently than the majority group) in this denomination anymore. The box seems so small and the pathway so narrow.” We wept together.

Tonight, I read this article:https://www.crcna.org/news-and-events/news/end-era-passing-peter-borgdorff

I was struck by these words, spoken at my Dad’s funeral by Joel Boot.

“It was hard and often painful work, but he did it willingly. He did it because he told me right at the start, ‘I hear God calling, and I have to obey’.’”

I hear God calling, and I have to obey. This guided me the week of Synod and has guided the Churches that took a stand this year at Synod. We did not stand in rebellion. We do not need discipline in this matter. We stood for God’s call. I do not understand what to do when God’s call conflicts between two groups of people. I will remain faithful to God’s calling and trust know that He will always be faithful to me!

 

 

 

I have been writing, even though I have not posted blogs. In some ways, I am surprised to see that my last posted blog was on June 8th. In the previous 21 days, I have missed writing tributes to my sisters Suzi and Jonna, my nieces and nephews, Hannah, Janneke, Matt., Elle, Lauren and Andrew.

I will be posting a number of posts in the coming days. They will reflect some of what the last three weeks have held. I participated as a delegate in our Christian Reformed Church Synod and it was a painful but clarifying process. It brought up so much about how do we live respectfully together in spaces where we see things so differently.

I have missed writing. I have missed the rhythm of ending my day in reflection of both the goodness and the struggles of living, but in the end, knowing God holds us all in his tender care! ❤️ trish

21 years ago, you entered our lives, and we had no idea how you would change our lives in such beautiful ways. Your gentle and steady presence is always welcome. Your curiosity and willingness to engage in questions and conversation make time spent with you enjoyable and never boring. It is fun to hear you remember and reflect, and even better to hear you dream and look ahead!

How can we not post some of our favorite pictures…you bring joy and goodness to everyone you encounter. You have a willing spirit, a good head on your shoulders, a solid heart in your soul, and a willingness to work hard! I am proud of you! I love you and believe that good things will continue to come your way. Dare to risk, be generous with your time and resources, and explore outside your comfort zone.

I love you, Peter, and am so proud of you! ❤️ aunt trish

I wonder if you have experienced the power of seasons—not the four seasons but seasons of relationships. When I thought of my friendships as a season in my life, I could celebrate them much more fully!

Sometimes, a friendship “ended” due to life circumstances, and I felt a profound loss. Sometimes, life shifted in a way that friendships just drifted out of my life. Sometimes, I could explain why, and others, to this day, I can’t quite put words to why.

In my 20s and 30s, I would have labeled these losses as rejection. I could not figure out why this happened. However, in some honest reflection, I began to understand that life events cause transitions. When my friends were getting married and having kids, and I remained single, perhaps it was more about transitions than rejection! Perhaps there were seasons to friendships that, instead of being grieved, can be marked and remembered as memorable and good!

Tonight, I read this quote! I was drawn to:

IF IT COMES, LET IT COME.

IF IT GOES, LET IT GO.

There is something so fluid about living with the ability to let people, thoughts, and life come and stay and then go.

And perhaps the most important last step in releasing and letting go is to give the releasing the right name…not rejection, but try on transition or redirection. I think it is healthy to have a life that has regular redirection. It is not always welcome, but do not cling to what must be released.  Embrace the redirection! ❤️ trish

Meet anger with…Sympathy

Contempt with…Compassion

Cruelty with…Kindness

Greet grimaces with…smiles

Forgive and…forget about finding fault

Love is….the weapon of the future!

I wonder if you have your love weapon ready to go for the week? Are you prepared to engage those you meet in a way that invites them to pause and wonder about how you are engaging them…

May others experience your Love weapon today!  ❤️trish