"I Had An Idea..."

"Toque 3"
Copyright Coldest Night of the Year
Limited Use: see https://cnoy.org/terms 

     About 10 days ago, I got a message from a member of the parish. It started with "I had an idea..." She went on to suggest that we put together a team to walk in the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser (held yesterday), benefitting a local agency that assists with our community's most vulnerable people. Thus, the Holy Walkamolies team was formed. We had a great time.
(Still accepting donations until 31 march: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?teamID=845294 )
     Aside from the obvious attraction (supporting the agency, raising awareness that social inequality is a major factor in our home towns, &c.), I really liked the question. It implied a comfort level with trying new things: it was a willingness to take a risk into a previously unknown area of ministry.
      This willingness is not always common in the church: I often ask groups to dream big when it comes to ministry opportunities, and identify what they would do if they knew they could not fail. (It's a positive perspective on asking what fear is preventing them from doing). In my experience, many have not considered anything new; some are limited by a desire to relive a myth of a utopian history; some have painfully overlooked mission as they focused solely on numbers or buildings.
       Another part of the joy of this particular idea was not just the willingness to try, but the support given by the other members of the congregation. I did not hear a single utterance of "we've never done it that way before" - rather there were questions of clarification and awareness. Some folks had limited knowledge of the social service agencies within our own region. I heard words of encouragement, offers of prayer, and a (delightfully) generous level of financial support for the cause. The church came together to encourage and support a new idea, and the person who brought it forward.
       This has been a celebration of church, as we are encouraged to build one another up in Christ, as we are called to servant leadership, and as we are commissioned to love. A simple "I had an idea" that wasn't ignored or dismissed led to a successful event, and demonstrated to the next dreamer that ideas are valued and desired, and appreciated by the community.
       So how do you dream big? What ideas do you have? What ideas have you supported in others?