A question of… the edge

Hi folks, I hope you are doing ok? This week we are meeting at the Enigma Tap at 7.30, I hope you can join us… It’s also my birthday! This week’s blog is kind of a big question… depending on how you view it, you will see what I mean as you read on.

As I write this I’m still buzzing after being away for a singing weekend, it was sheer joy! Not only was it a rare space for Karen and I to attend something without being leaders, it enabled me to just be in the moment without worrying about other things.

As I pondered on the weekend it struck me how people that I hardly knew and those that I didn’t know at all, are now becoming friends, of course friendship takes time and it’s not straightforward. But it felt comfortable to be around these folks, especially without any of the other strings connected to my roles at work. I think all of that is a blog in and of itself.

But what I want to really think about is about ‘being on the edge’, what do I mean? Well, again I find myself on the edge of something new and burgeoning and I also find some similarities as to how I view ‘church’ and my spirituality. Lots of people connected to BFX I think are feeling or have felt a sense of being on the edge, edge of faith, edge of spirituality, edge of friendships, edge of relationships.

It can of course be unnerving, as it’s hard to pinpoint where you belong, what you are, what you believe or don’t believe, who are your people, who aren’t your people. Navigating this can be tough, especially if you have been so used to being in and around the centre, at the centre you tend to take on the perceived truth, trivia and reality of the given situation, the power plays here can be exhausting. As you move towards the edge those things become a little less clear and ambiguous, maybe even unsatisfying.

It is interesting to think about Jesus sending the disciples to ‘preach’ to the nations, to all creation – I wonder if Jesus was doing this to move the disciples out of the centre… to leave their security and the systems that they knew and understood, to leave their friendships and relationships to be pushed in to new spaces. We see some of this at play through Jesus’ instruction to not take anything with them (Mark 6:8) and to accept the hospitality and hostility of others. (Mark 6:10-11) I’m reminded of John Wesley and his crew, moving from the centre of the Church of England and going to the ordinary people, preaching in public spaces, here he had to deal with all sorts! Just as a caveat, I’m not advocating we should go and start preaching on the streets! It clearly met a desired need at the time, but it’s questionable at best today!

The prophets also found themselves on the edge, they were neither in the centre or out of it all together, they were walking the realities between worlds. Jesus again talked about being ‘the gate’ (John 10:7-9) A place between the inside and the outside… on the edge.

I wonder if being on the edge is actually a creative space to be? And maybe its a positive place to be, it might not feel like it of course, it can be tough and difficult, but I write this to encourage you, and me, to try and stay on the edge, to not try and disregard the centre or the other spaces on the other side of the centre, to walk in the in-between spaces, to see things from a wide view, to be in a liminal space.

I wonder if on this edge there is a place of compassion for all, a place for understanding for those who hold different views and values to us. I wonder if on the edge new and burgeoning things can be birthed, lived out, new experiences embraced, even old things can be viewed differently, even creatively.

I am beginning to wonder if that is why ‘Beachcomber’ resonates so strongly for me… to walk along the edge of the sand and the tide coming in and out, in that space new and old things can be brought into the light and uncovered.

And so if you are not sure where you fit, who you are, where you belong, what you believe, maybe you are on the edge and you know what I think, you are amongst great company including prophets and dare I say even Jesus.

Some questions

• What physical edge scares/excites you?

• What spaces/places do you feel at the centre?

• Where do you feel on the edge?

• How has this reflection resonated or not with you?

• How do you feel about living on the edge being a place of compassion and creativity? 

• A moment to ponder – Who do you know who are on the edge? Do they need support? 

Peace, Rob

Rob Wylie

Rob Wylie is the founder of BeachcomberFX and guides its leadership team.  He has worked in the North East for over 20 years and has vast experience from various roles he has held.  He has a passion for Fresh Expressions of Church and Pioneer Ministry as well as beer, beaches and Miniature Schnauzers.