By Annie Falcke
I'm the kind of nerd that likes to keep lists and plans. I have a special notebook in which I keep all my annual lists, goals and plans.
I have pages with 'foods to master' and 'things to research' and 'People to call regularly' (I'm really bad at that one)
I have a big double spread that lists out all the little things that bring me joy. I'm really bad at remembering to do fun things so I need to keep a list and then remind myself regularly to do them.
Another habit I developed at Kallara Reunion as a uni student was doing an end of year review. I'd spend time looking at the year that had been, and set goals in different areas of my life for the following year. I feel like that week between
Christmas and New Years is the perfect liminal space to reflect on the year gone, and the year ahead. I'd create lists of habits that I'd like to implement, savings goals, projects to complete. I still do this every year in that liminal week, although these days you'll find me at Tiona Reunion.
After my move away from Melbourne, and becoming 'unattached' to a congregation, I added a new page to my book - my ministry plan. This became necessary as I realised that I could no longer operate on a 'default setting'...turning up to my congregation each week, contributing to the worship roster, bringing morning tea once a month, or taking a term of Sunday School.
No. That framework was no longer available to me. Now I had to be creative, self-directed. The responsibility was on me to drive my own contribution and development.
This puts me in the exciting position of being able to choose my own adventure! No longer do I decide my contribution by what blank spaces are on the roster at the congregational AGM! Now I ask the question... What matters most to me? What do I want to study? What gifts do I bring to the church network? What projects can I work on that are not sensitive to my geography?
This freedom has been nourishing and highly productive! It has been refreshing to step back from the specific issues that are going on in congregations, and look at the bigger picture. To drop some of the 'insider' language and strategic plan catchphrases and adopt a broader narrative.
I am a spiritual seeker first. I connect with the divine, I use the language of the mystics. I'm committed to the sacred story, the pursuit of an ethical society. I am interested in building spiritual resilience for the challenges we humans have ahead of us. I'm fascinated by the cultural depth of Christianity in all its high and low points.
It is more important than ever to have a deeply grounded spiritual life, to seek meaningful relationships and communities, to give voice to justice, and to harness the power of music, poetry, and transformative stories. These timeless truths are what continue to motivate me to develop my growth plans, my ministry plans.
Whether we are connected to a congregation or not, we all have so much that we can contribute to our collective quest for depth and connectedness.
As we look at the year that has gone, we all have the opportunity to let a few things go, and spend time on new things in the new year. What will be on your list?
Do you have a curiosity that you'd like to develop?
Is there something that feels urgent, important to share?
What skills have you developed in your own life that could help others thrive?
Do you keep abreast of innovation and change in the way ministries are delivered around the world?
The spirit breathes anew in each generation.
Sometimes you have to sit still for a while to feel where the spirit is moving in you.
(And then write it down! Commit to it! Write to me! Let's correspond! anniefalcke@gmail.com)
Annie is a Naturopath, wholefoods nutritionist and arts writer, based in Albury NSW. Annie lives with her husband Phil, together they share two daughters, and a love the natural world and ethical living.