Low and slow

If you’ve never seen the Disney film McFarland USA then it is well worth a viewing, especially if you’re into watching true stories with a feel-good vibe.  It isn’t a plot spoiler to tell you that, despite looking intimidating as they cruise around town, some of the characters are just enjoying their “low and slow” American muscle cars rather than trying to scare the family who have just moved into town. The perspective of the onlookers from outside was one thing, but the reality for those driving was quite different.

I find this to be true as I co-lead a small community church on our estate. People think it’s all-action, madly dashing from one challenging situation to the next. Occasionally it is like that, but the day-to-day reality is that the work, the mission, is “low and slow”. It’s on the margins, with people who are all too often ignored, and it often looks unimpressive and gradual.

Breakthroughs that we celebrate might seem insignificant to many. Someone volunteering to do the washing up for the first time (come on!). Someone having a few church folk round to their flat (remarkable!). Someone having the confidence to pray a beautiful short prayer aloud (boom!). Years of relationship building, Bible study and prayer lie behind those moments and we are so grateful to God when we witness them.

Through this I’m slowly learning (or frequently re-learning) that it’s time in prayer and time with people that makes the difference. Sadly, there is so much these day that seems to require looking at a laptop, whereas the joy and the steps forward come from being on our knees before God and bumping into someone on the street.

I find this a constant challenge. Simply scheduling time in my diary to ‘Be Outside’ is a step that I don’t take often enough.  I need reminding that I can just turn the laptop off (even as the to-do list remains incomplete), spend time in prayer, get my coat on and head outside. One of the delights of living on a densely populated estate is that, even in London, it’s almost inevitable you’ll see someone you know as you walk around locally. Leanne walking her dogs. Kamal sat in his regular spot watching the world go by. Susie returning from the school run. It’s amazing to get out. The little opportunities to pray for someone, happening to see the right person at just the right time to give and receive some encouragement or simply saying a quick “Hello mate”. It is so often where the low and slow magic happens.

That leads me to forgiveness. In a tightly packed community with loads of criss-crossing relationships, forgiveness is a vital element to maintaining ministry. Few things are valued as lowly in the dominant culture of our day as forgiveness (On the film theme…try searching for films on forgiveness, compared to films on revenge. Revenge clearly sells more than forgiving does). Coupled with this, the work of forgiving someone can often be slow. Yet, it is one of the most Jesus-like things we can do. “And forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). We pray those words of Jesus so often, and they are massive when it comes to sustaining mission.

Like so much in the Way of Jesus, forgiveness is easier said than done. Whether bitterness has taken root because the smell of weed has wafted through the window again, or due to noisy neighbours in the middle of the night, or some relational fallout, the only way to get rid of it is to take the way of forgiveness with God as our guide.

The best resource I’ve come across on forgiveness is Forgive, Release and Be Free by Joff Day. The book walks you through how unforgiveness develops and outlines a process of forgiving and releasing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Then, as the forgivers, we can live free. It’s been transformative for me. It sounds so unimpressive and low, but without forgiving, I would have burnt out long ago. Maybe forgiving is particularly low and slow work but, for me at least, it has by God’s grace, enabled me to continue on the low and slow walk in this community (even as my footsteps need to head outside more).

Praise God that He walks with us on this low and slow journey of mission in our neighbourhoods. Whether it’s seeing Kingdom growth in people, chatting on street corners, or forgiving and releasing He is patient and compassionate. To Him be the glory forever and ever.

Prayer

Father, thank you that walk this low and slow road of urban mission with us. Thank you that in Jesus we have the ideal role model and mentor. Help us to be quick to forgive and sustain us as we follow in the way of Christ.