When TLA's are OTT

An email this week got me thinking about acronyms – TLA’s to be precise. (Three Letter Acronyms). The note was full of information. But much of it used acronyms and short-forms; as such, if the reader was not ‘in the know’, it looked a bit like a secret code. (To be honest, even as someone ‘in the know’, I had to re-read several sentences to parse out what they were saying.)

Now, with any institution, acronyms become commonplace. But they can become a little OTT (Over The Top) – and when they do, communications can be cloudy or confused. In some spaces, context is helpful: CBC on the radio is a broadcast station, whereas in a hospital setting it’s a blood test; BS in a pastor’s calendar can mean Bible Study, in conversation it can mean… something else.

In communications, however, acronyms can become unintentional barriers. If we aren’t clear about what we’re inviting someone to; for example, an invitation to an ARE group in one church may mean ‘adult religious education’ and in another ‘anti-racist exploration’ – both are good things, but can have a very different focus.

We also may prevent folks from outside the church from connecting with us, when we use too much of our internal lingo. A church sign that reads “8BCP/10BASwSS” may be clear to us (8.00 am Book of Common Prayer/10.00 am Book of Alternative Services with Sunday School) can be baffling and off-putting to a newcomer.

When we are trying to live out the gospels, perhaps it’s best to take a lesson from the followers of Jesus: to speak in plain language, in a manner that is understood by the people, in a structure that is welcoming. After all, the Kingdom of God is not the KoG! Let’s do all we can to make our worship and service as clear and useful as possible.

On Jell-O and Jesus!

"Rainbow Jello" CC BY-ND 2.0 by Andrea.Pacheco
Source: Flickr

I had a conversation this week about Jell-O: that wiggly colourful gelatinous dessert. My friend and I were discussing how it reminds us of childhood, as it was such a ubiquitous part of that time: being found in salads and moulds, with fruit in it or by itself, in vibrant rainbow layers or muted when mixed with cream. It was food for a sick child, a cooling force for a sore throat, a hospital-meal staple as it had staying power; even as a spiked treat for older party-goers. We even shared the format: how a minor reduction in water content changed this jelly from a mushy dessert to a ‘jiggler’ of specified forms (stars or cubes or whatever else!).

Part of the popularity of this dessert was, of course, its accessibility: it’s a hard thing to do ‘wrong’ as the recipe is so simple. It’s also an inexpensive dessert, affordable off the shelf and without the need for special equipment at home to make.

Part of the popularity was its versatility: there was always a new way to use this ingredient – as a basis for a dish, as a dish itself, or as an adherent hiding within another dish. It could be used in savoury or sweet dishes. And, (with the exceptions of vegetarians and religious restrictions), it was an ingredient that could be presented to just about anyone.

These days, while it’s not *as* popular, it can still be found – readily – at picnics and parties, at every grocery store in the dessert aisle and in many kitchen pantries. It’s flexible, it’s versatile, it’s adaptable, it’s timeless.

Much as our faith should be!

Perhaps as we continue in the heat of the summer, and as we are re-opening to social gatherings, we can learn from the Jell-O experience – and demonstrate our faith in ways that are flexible, versatile, and timeless. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we became as enthusiastic about sharing our faith journey as we are about sharing our favourite recipes and flavours.

J-E-S-U-S!

What Are You Reading?

I’ve had a few conversations this week about books: what people are reading, how they enjoy it, do they recommend it, etc..

This is not a huge surprise, I’ve been a life-long lover of literature! Part of what I enjoy is talking about books – discussing the characters, the plot twists, the impact. And, of course, the intention of reading.

So right now, it’s not surprising that we’re discussing summer reads – those light-hearted enjoyable easy novels (because summer is great for fiction!) that go well with iced tea on the deck.

One of the great joys I have in discussing books is the overall acceptance that people have of other readers. There’s seldom animosity between genres or authors; we all appreciate books in our own ways. I dislike horror but enjoy mysteries, a friend prefers romances to historical fiction, etc. Our differences are not divisions!

Perhaps this is a trend we can pick up on, in general conversation and living. We don’t need to be identical in thinking to get along, we don’t need to all have the same preferences to spend time together, we don’t even need to have the same allegiances to find a common ground for conversation.

Maybe a simple conversation about books is a great way to start the journey to a shared adventure in life. In a time where so much engagement feels antagonistic, perhaps book chat can help bring us back closer to middle ground.

So… what are you reading?

Worth Saving

    I got some local strawberries this weekend. A lot of them, in fact. Many of them have already transitioned to their new state of being: dehydrated strawberry slices! And many more are headed in the same direction.

I dehydrate a lot of fruit as it comes fresh and local; one of my habits is a breakfast of oatmeal and fruit – and with dehydrated fruit, I can toss in a handful when I am cooking the oats, and enjoy the sweet taste of local produce year-round. It has some slight flavour variations, of course, but I find pure delight in those strawberries in the dead of winter.

The preservation process takes a little bit of time, and a little bit of work, but I find it worthwhile.

This reminds me of our spiritual journey in these times. Today, for the first time in months, we are gathering again in the church building. While we *know* that the church is the people and the ministries, it is empowering for so many to be in an ages-old house of prayer; a space filled with memories of spiritual nourishment for so long.

So today I’m thinking about what we keep – what we preserve. As we are heading ever forward (because backward in time really doesn’t work!), we are invited to do so with intentionality. We know that we are not “going back to normal” – as if a normal ever existed in the past. But what we are moving into can carry the aspects that were positive for us – that were nourishing for us. What we preserved from the past, in our traditions and memories and practices – can be the fruits for the future age of faith tradition.

So what are you preserving? What do you want to carry forward to a post-COVID church?