A dash of thought - June 2021

What do we boast about?

Anyone applying for a job has to prove their qualities. What are my strengths? What competences have I acquired? Why am I convinced that I am the right person for this job?

Whoever invites someone else to the UMC must be convinced of the qualities of the congregation. What are the strengths of our congregation? What good things will the person to be invited find? Why am I convinced that we as the UMC have something to offer?

Whether individually or as a church: self-assessment and external assessment do not always coincide. Sometimes the self-assessment is much more critical than the view from the outside. Sometimes the self-assessment is exaggerated and others see it more critically. In the short term, people who are convinced of themselves can score points, but in the longer term, too much hot air leads to disappointment.

What do we boast about? Or a little less provocatively: what do we want to excel at, personally and as Church? The apostle Paul calls for us to put off the old life and live as new creatures. In Colossians he uses the image of clothing: "Therefore put on the new garment. It consists of heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." (Colossians 3:12) and: "Above all, clothe yourselves with love. It is the bond that binds you together in perfect unity." (3,14).

Such clothing is attractive. It is something to boast about!

Bishop Patrick Streiff