Fruitful Space

Having changed my employment over the past year, I now have the benefit of driving through the country and seeing the patchwork quilt of English countryside on my way to work. Over the seasons, I’ve witnessed the rotation of crops in the fields. Sometimes the fields are a rich brown, full of ploughed furrows; at other times they are full of crops, or they may be grassy fields used for animal pasture. Regardless of what is growing in the fields, each field has its edge – a seemingly fallow space. Often the crops in the fields look like ‘the main event’, but it is along the edges of the field that a whole microcosm of life and activity flourishes.

The edges of the fields harbour flowers, insects, birdlife, wildlife and much more; the edges act as host to picnicers, ramblers, lovers and artists. Arguably, there is more going on around the edges of the fields than there is at their centre.

So we might agree to call these edges, fruitful space.

Green Pastures as Fruitful Space
Just like the fields, surrounded by fruitful spaces, GP offers space to take time out from whatever the ‘main events’ are in your life. The Centre provides opportunities to draw aside from the usual routines and challenges of life. Drawing aside to the fruitful space, we can gain new perspectives on our situations and resources for our return.

Uncomfortable Space
Even though we pride ourselves at GP on being familiar with space and with silence, as a ministry we are being brought to our own time of drawing aside and considering our future.

With the departure of our Pastoral Director, Colin Norris, we find ourselves in a situation of space - which feels a little scary; but we believe this space will give us valuable time to reflect on our future. We are considering how we can offer ministry in a sustainable and fruitful way that will be relevant and appealing to our guests and companions.

Ruth’s Fruitful Space
At our AGM in May, we considered the story of Ruth in relation to this theme of ‘Fruitful Space’.

‘And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favour." Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter." So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.’ (Ruth 2:2-3)

Ruth’s fruitful space highlighted some themes that we can relate to our situation at GP:

Sharing
The pivotal point in Ruth’s story is when she gleans in the fields. She makes use of that scriptural injunction to those who work the land ‘not to reap to the very edges of your fields or gather the gleanings of your harvest ...leave them for the poor and the alien.’ We are committed to sharing with the poor and those who feel alienated from church, from others, from themselves and/or from God.

Hesed - loyalty or commitment
Green Pastures is firmly based on the mercy and loving kindness of God; and we seek to maintain the quality of space that will allow our guests to find this for themselves.

Ruth - friend, or companion
Ruth made the love and faithfulness of God real to her mother-in-law, Naomi, by offering friendship. Our ministry aims to keep company with others on the way.

Serendipity
The Authorised Version of the bible translates the final verse of the passage quoted above as: ‘her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz.’ That is quaint language for the remarkable incidences that often take place in the ordinary stuff of life. Surprising co-incidences, transformations and miracles happen – very often in less than spectacular ways.

We believe it is the serendipity of God that takes seemingly ordinary and unremarkable elements to bring about remarkable transformations.

Our Present Fruitfulness
We asked ourselves: ‘What do we have already?’ And we came up with a long list including the elements above, exceptional staff, loyal supporters and fine retreat leaders who offer a much needed emphasis on spiritual formation and teaching.

Underlying all this, we have a context: local churches and our community, as well as access to the wider scene through our website. Our hope is that GP will network more closely with local churches, volunteers and supporters.

The Negatives of our Space
In every open space there are challenges, dangers and nuisances. Our negatives include the rocks of financial hurdles and the nettles and thistles of sometimes prickly relationships. We gained inspiration from one guest who pointed out that the resources for the healing of nettle stings are usually available in any fruitful space - in the form of dock leaves.

The Positives and Possibilities of our Space
Fruitful space at the edge often becomes a pathway.

If the field of crops itself represents work, then the edge is the place that contrasts with this. Today and in Ruth’s day, the fruitful space is a place for picnics, for lingering, a place to rest and to appreciate the view, and a place to be resourced and to grow. Ruth can help us to notice our present fruitfulness – sharing what we have already and offering that invitation for the poor and the alien to find resources for life.

GP will continue to offer a fruitful space for guests; and in this time when we are holding our own space, we ask you to pray for us and to support us in whatever way you can as we adjust and refocus. Our prayer is that the Centre will become a space that is fruitful in every way.

Rev Sally Bedborough

Chairwoman