Stages...

In preparation for giving the Great Family story recently I was re-reading the Genesis chapters where the story comes from (always a good idea!). I noticed again a repeated phrase that has caught my attention before about Abram and Sarai's journey:

And Abram journeyed on by stages...(12:9 and 13:2) In The Message it's translated: Abram kept moving, steadily making his way...

The word "stages" has been helpful for me recently. The organization of Godly Play is steadily making its way as an organization - and we are going through different "stages".

I was reminded of a piece by Teilhard de Chardin that one of our trainers passed on to me some time ago and I often use during a core training:

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through some stages of instability...
and that it may take a very long time.

The whole piece by Chardin is at the end of this post. It always speaks deeply to me. I commend it to you.

I'm not sure exactly what stage we are in but I am convinced that we are steadily making our way - We're certainly not there yet (are we ever?) but we continue to journey steadily!

Organizational Update


We recently did some work with a wonderful consultant who has worked with us before. She works with non-profit organizations and helps them recognize and maneuver through the different stages of development. She helped us recognize this "formative organizational" stage we are in where we are moving from a founder based organization to a more organizational structure. She reminded us that its a bumpy ride. One of the characteristics of this stage is trying things and seeing what works and what doesn't - all the while a lot of activity is going on. It's a fairly chaotic but energetic time.

There has been a recent revisiting of some key organizational decisions. Some of the main questions we have asked are: Where is the best location to "do business"? What jobs are actually needed to do our work? How can we best spend the limited amount of money we have on these jobs? The bottom line of all of this is that the
Foundation board felt it would be best for the Foundation offices to move back to San Gabriel where they were before the move to Seattle. It is where Tim Alderson, our Executive Director lives. The Foundation offices are now back at The Church of Our Savior in San Gabriel. The Rector of the church, Michael Battle, is on the Godly Play Foundation board and the Bishop of that diocese is an ardent supporter of Godly Play so we are in good hands.

New contact information:

Godly Play Foundation
535 W. Roses Road
San Gabriel, CA 91775

toll free 877-569-8656

San Gabriel office phones:
626-872-6330 main
626-872-6331 alternate
626-872-6332 fax


We ask for your prayers as we work to facilitate Godly Play's growth and expansion and work to protect the integrity and spirit of this great gift.

As Chardin reminds us: "give our Lord the benefit of believeing that God's hand is leading us and accept the anxiety of feeling in suspense and incomplete."

We will keep moving steadily - making our way....

With you on the journey - in stages!

Caryl



Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through some stages of instability...
and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually...let them grow.
Let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on, as thought you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)
will make you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit, gradually forming within you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.

Teilhard de Chardin, S.J.
1881 - 1955