Peterson sees Genesis 2 structured by place, while Genesis 1 was structured by time. I think his experience as a pastor really shines through in this section. Just as God planted a garden in a specific place, Eden, so too God places each of us in a specific location on earth to live out our Christian faith. He writes that he spent his life as a pastor trying to teach people that a sense of place (where they worked, raised their children, played golf, ate meals, etc) was the exclusive and irreplaceable setting for following Jesus...but that this was mighty difficult work (73). Do you find this is true in your own pastoral ministry?
It was a good reminder to me that there is no such place as "utopia," and we ought not to expect it or encourage our church members to seek it. Right now, as our church has been in such transition and frustration/apathy abounds, it is very easy for people to leave the church or quit attending because they think that there's got to be a better place to worship or that things will change and get suddenly better when a new senior pastor comes. I admit that I too, unlike Gregory of Nyssa, do not want to stay where I have (for the time being) been placed. Yet, "God deals with us where we are and not where we would like to be" (75). I can still hope that he will soon take me to a new place, right?
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I was reading this section of the book in August of 2005 when we made our last move. I was quite taken with the Gregory of Nyssa story as I embarked on a new call. I was already familiar with the value Peterson places on being "local" and his encouragment to pastors to STAY PUT, and I was hoping to STAY PUT in my new place. You all know the rest of the story.
Rereading this section this week, I also pick up more of a sense of the reality and importance of "fit." This mainly comes from the section on intimacy, where he talks about the phenomenon of similarity -- and it may be just my wishful thinking that the "staying put" and "fit" are linked in Peterson's mind. I suppose there are a lot of factors that contribute to similarity and the capacity for intimacy, but how legitimate (biblically and theologically) is it to care about these as we evaluate where we are right now and where we might go next? I guess I'd like to know whether Eugene has only gone to places where he "fit" in the first place, or whether he simply stayed put and similarity and capacity for intimacy came into being over time. Some of my experiences -- just some of them, not all -- make me feel a bit of a failure when I measure them against the Gregory of Nyssa story.
One thing this last move showed me is that I'm probably a lot less geographically flexible and adaptable than I thought I was or would like to be. The truth is, I fit certain places better than others.
Yes, I think fit is key with Peterson. Remember he told me to "get out of that church as fast as you can!"
And now that I am in a church where there is a clear fit - a clear call - I really want to become a part of the place. I find the more I do that, the more I am able to pastor - both for the folks here, and for my own pastoral identity.
Yet, I hear many, many stories of pastors who are struggling and can't seem to find a sense of fit or a way to fit in. Some is pastoral, but some is also congregational. Everyone seems to want the perfect church, but struggle with our humanity in that.
Whew, I'm glad Peterson is big on one's "fit" with a congregation. But I admit that I am afraid to interview/take another call because often you don't know if you're a "fit" until you've been in the church for a while.
I long to stay put in a place, because I do think like Tracie said, it makes you a better pastor. It's a fine balance between finding a place where you "fit" and growing to become a better fit as you commit to stay.
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