Kicked to the Curb

Kicked to the Curb

Two weeks ago I was ‘terminated’ to use the supervisor’s terminology, from my fifth lost paid position in a church.  In the first situation, my supervisor was brought before his supervisor sixteen years later and confronted with issues involving his relating to me.  In a review of my second lost position, the reviewer stated that he had spoken with many people and come to the conclusion that I “had been wrongly treated.”  Before I moved away from that second area, a litany of congregational apology had been written and built into the last church service I attended there and, with the bishop’s approval, I was licensed for one Sunday to serve Communion.  My third, fourth and fifth lost positions were as close to home as anyone in my situation could possibly be. 

In summary, three different “supervisors” decided to kick me to the curb and that’s exactly where I am in ministry.  Allow me to explain:

Rather than repeat myself with the accounts of each very real experience, I’m providing the blog title with its link and showing the curb where it happened. (You might want to use the 'open link in new tab' feature.)

Girl Scouts, A Coat and An Angel's Name in Kensington: happened on this curb.

The green shirt is red: happened on this curb and in this park.

I did something I should not have done...:  happened in this building on this curb.

A Red Crayon and a Flat Rat…:  happened on the curb of this street.

Kittens in Kensington, and The Archbishop of Canterbury Versus the Homeless Addict both happened on the curbs around this Wawa Store.

I would Like you to Meet David and Autumn...: happened on this curb.

Just Four People Standing On A Street Corner: happened on this curb and this curb.

The Ian part of Ian, Autumn and Mickey: three human beings made in the image of God: happened on this curb.

And that’s only what I’ve blogged about since January 1 and today in 2017! 

If church supervisors had supervisors to whom they were accountable in the moment and not long after the fact, I might never have found the curb.  Perhaps this is an example of what Paul was talking about in Ephesians 1:11

⁹ God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. ¹⁰ And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. ¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,^[c] for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

God is able to take those events which should not have happened and turn the undesirable effects into something that should have happened.  Praise be to God.