Beginner’s Mind

This week, I’m attending a continuing education event at Columbia Theological Seminary.  The seminar/workshop is titled “Social Networking Media in Congregations.”  We are particularly exploring how the church can use Blogs, Facebook, Email Marketing tools and Twitter to help connect our members and those who are not yet part of the church to the Source of Life – Jesus Christ. 

While the possibilities are rich and exciting, I have to tell you that the learning curve is STEEP  (especially for people like me who were reared with envelopes, stamps, typewriters and carbon paper).  As I make attempts with the new technology, I find myself getting frustrated — I don’t like not knowing what I’m doing.  I don’t want to look foolish; I don’t want to risk failure.  I want to maintain at least a sliver of the facade of competence.  But if I want to truly learn to maneuver in this new world, I can’t do that.  I have to risk failure, acknowledge my limitations and open myself up to being taught. 

As I was mulling all of this over last night, I was reminded of Jesus’ exhortation to Nicodemus that we must be born anew to enter the kingdom.  I was also reminded of His words about  “going through the eye of the needle” and the need to  “become like a child.”   It seems that (among other things) Jesus is saying that we must be willing to start over, to risk looking foolish, to be vulnerable and teachable if we are to participate in the life and mission of God’s Kingdom. 

So… today as I stumble my way through Tweets, open sourcing, Wikis, “clouds,” Facebook and blogging… I’ll be thinking of it as a spiritual exercise!!!