by Nancy Gatlin, Hope Fellowship
Originally Written for “Shalom Connections,” a periodic newsletter for the four Shalom Mission Communities: Church of the Sojourners (San Francisco), Hope Fellowship (Waco), Jubilee Partners (Comer, GA), and Reba Place Fellowship (Evanston and Chicago)
Esteban, José and Daniela, our toddler and pre-k grandchildren, scurried along on the path at Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place, a sanctuary for wildflowers in Waco. The bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush were in full bloom, a delight for the eye to see. It is always a treat to explore with them as they observe with fresh eyes how nature works. Their screams and excitement at seeing bees and butterflies buzzing and fluttering about awakened in me as well that sense of awe for God’s purposes and creation.
Cross-pollination. Perhaps you’ve heard the word. It’s “the process by which pollen is carried from one flower to another by wind, insects, etc.”
Scientists tell us that, when compared to self-pollination, cross-pollination has certain evolutionary advantages. The science shows that the adaptations that this cross-pollination produces aid in survival of the species.
So how does the process of cross-pollination translate among us who live in intentional Christian communities and churches? To begin with, we experience this phenomenon as we gather for our Shalom Mission Communities reunions or as we visit each other and experience life in each other’s communities. There needs to be some way of transporting ourselves back and forth for this cross-pollination to happen. Even joining an SMC-Valle Nuevo (El Salvador) delegation serves to connect us and exchange the “pollen” of our life together.
I’ve experienced and observed many such cross-pollinations over the years. The list is long, but here are some of the examples: marriages, shared songs sung among us all, lack-of-talent shows (now cross-pollinated to Nurturing Communities Network), help in dealing with challenging issues in our communal lives, the use of “year-long themes”, encouragement to tackle difficult issues for the health and witness of the community, our relationship with Valle Nuevo, books written by members in each other’s communities, wisdom shared by elders in other communities that have served us all, the visitations we all commit to have with each other, and all the personal sharing among individuals in each of our communities and churches.
We are all richer and healthier because of the gift of cross-pollination. Having just returned from Jubilee, I stand in awe at the ways they have listened to the Spirit of God, “the wind,” over the years and allowed “the wind” to adapt and change them so that the work of the kingdom can flourish. I take to heart those lessons as I come back to my community.
There is anticipation and joy as I consider what this year’s SMC reunion will cross-pollinate in us for the sake of Christ!