Frogs

Abiding in Hope

by

There’s a season for everything

    and a time for every matter under the heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1, CEB)

In my new neighborhood, there has been an intentionality in providing green space.  To that end, there is a large depression filled with an assortment of prairie plants located between where I live and the houses on the next street over.  On the development plans this area is referred to as a prairie slough, however it has been bone-dry ever since I moved in a little under a year ago.  Although I certainly have enjoyed the beauty of the prairie plants, I would be hard-pressed to call this site a slough.

At least that was the case until along came this spring filled with so much rain.  Suddenly, after a couple of those soaking rain systems, this area is now holding standing water.  It has become that promised prairie slough. As I have walked my dogs along its edges, I have noticed some ducks, a couple of geese, and a lot of red-winged blackbirds taking advantage of this new habitat.

But what has really caught my attention are the frogs that showed up as soon as the water showed up.  I have no idea where they came from as there is no permanent water close by, but with a little standing water, the frogs and toads came, droves of them, everywhere – singing for all they were worth.  Like a pop-up store, a deafening frog chorus erupted overnight.

I guess there is truth in the thought that if you flood it, they will come.

Opportunistic frogs had seized that moment. The conditions were ideal, the time right, so they seemed to be making the most of it.  Overnight there emerged a frog chorus; and with it, new possibilities and the potential for new life.

Honestly, I stood and listened in amazement.

Now I hope the delegates to General Conference will not be offended, but I have found some similarities between the work they did at General Conference and the frogs in my prairie slough.  For, like the frogs, the delegates took advantage of the right conditions and they recognized that the time was ideal. So emerged new legislation; emerged new possibilities; and the potential for new life.  From this General Conference arose some grace-filled legislation – legislation that will hopefully serve to guide and shape The United Methodist Church as we move into this new season of what it will mean to be the church.

Honestly, I stand in amazement at all the legislation that happened.  I was seeing things happen that I wasn’t sure I would ever see happen.

Yes, I am glad of this new beginning that is emerging but I hold in tension all the pain and suffering that my LGBTQ sisters and brothers have been forced to endure in the name of the church.  We know that the church does have the ability to be a source of great comfort, but we also know that it can inflict great pain. 

We cannot forget this. 

There has been so much hurt where peoples’ lives and very existence in the church have been called into question.  Such a stance has generated so much pain for so many people. It will be important to hold onto these marginalized voices, so that what emerges along this new path for The United Methodist Church will hold life and hope for all people.

For this day, I am glad that the delegates were able to plop into the water and seize the moment.  I am glad they were able to legislate in ways that have started a new beginning, a new way of being that is more centered on grace and inclusion.

I don’t know where The United Methodist Church is headed.  I don’t know what will continue to emerge and serve to shape it.  But my prayer is that it will always better reflect the deep and abiding and inclusive love of Jesus Christ. 

The Rev. Nan Smith is a retired clergy member of the Iowa Annual Conference. "Abiding in Hope" is a spiritual support project of the Iowa Conference. Subscribe to Abiding in Hope