Appreciative Inquiry
appreciation (noun)
- a feeling of being grateful for something;
- an ability to understand the worth, quality, or importance of something;
- full awareness or understanding of something.
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appreciation, accessed September 29, 2021)
Has the pandemic made appreciation easier or harder for you?
appreciate (verb)
- to understand the worth or importance of;
- to admire and value;
- to be grateful for;
- used to make a polite request.
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appreciation, accessed September 29, 2021)
Has the pandemic made it easier or harder for you to appreciate?
I think the old saying goes, “You don’t appreciate something or someone until you no longer have it or they.” The pandemic and the politics of the first twenty-one years of this millennium has challenged my appreciation and what I appreciate. Why?
We live in a time when everything matters and nothing matters most.
On a good day my words, my choices, and my living are consistent with my beliefs, my values, and my discipleship following Jesus. I’ve not specifically denied knowing Jesus, but that “love your neighbor as yourself” part of the great commandment and journey in faith has been harder. You would think that might be different given that I’ve been a Jesus follower for many, many years. Apparently, it is not just me, but many Jesus followers and those that place faith in Jesus are having similar struggles. Why?
We live in a time when everything matters and nothing matters most.
There have been ministers, laity, persons who practice other faiths, and persons of no faith during my life that helped me figure out what matters most. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) recognizes October as Minister Appreciation Month. Specifically, October 10th, is the Sunday that many congregations will recognize their minister(s). In the next couple of weeks, pause for thirty minutes to write a note to a minister(s) that expresses your appreciation for their walk alongside you in faith. It doesn’t have to be lengthy.
Jesus often went away from the crowds to recharge his spiritual batteries for his life in ministry. Your note of appreciation might be that recharge moment your minister needs. Remember, the ministers among us have prayed for, modeled faithfulness, and led struggling people, struggling congregations, and struggling institutions through this pandemic while having their own professional and personal struggles.
Some of these struggles I share. Some I appreciate.
