The Pastor’s Paragraphs…

The Iron Triangle aphorism in project management goes like this: A project can combine only two of the following three factors: Fast, Cheap, and Right. A Fast and Cheap job probably won’t be done Right. A Cheap job done Right likely won’t happen fast. And a job done Right and Fast ain’t ever gonna come cheap.

So which factor matters most to you? Which can you live without? Cost? Time? Or Quality?

Obviously, answers differ according to circumstances. And the Iron Triangle ignores significant other factors. Irrespective of time, cost, or output, what did we learn by doing this project as we did? How did our way of working the project affect people? How do people feel about the process (not just the result)?

I find myself asking these questions as we actively discern and pursue “God’s next thing” here at Trinity. At the same time I’m preparing to move for the sixth time in nine years. It’s all good stuff, but not entirely easy or comfortable. There are days I’m sure I’m failing at everything; other days, I feel like maybe I’ve finally lost all my marbles.

What if I accelerate my moving timeline to minimize paying rent and mortgage at the same time? I know that choice will seriously impact the orderliness of my move.

Similarly, what if we, as a congregation, allow God’s will to unfold in God’s time, at the same time investing human and financial resources into opportunities emerging right now? That choice isn’t cheap or fast, but I suggest it’s a good choice for us in the coming months. I believe God has excellent things in mind for Trinity. We need time to pray, dream, and discover the future taking root in our present moment, and we need courage to invest now in people and projects reveal our faith in that future.

And let’s be real. Nothing, ever, gets to be perfect. By perfect, I mean exactly the way I want it when I want it, which I think is how most of us define perfection. God’s perfection is messier than that. Take Mark’s version of the Parable of the Mustard Seed. In it, Jesus says the kingdom of God is like a not-very-impressive mustard seed that, after planting, grows into the largest of…shrubs. (If you’ve never seen a desert shrub, trust me. They also qualify as not-very-impressive.)

But that unimpressive shrub, Jesus says, grows branches wide and strong enough to create shady (see: cool) habitat for birds. I think our challenge as a congregation (and my challenge as I move house) is to make sure that we hold safe, restful space for one another, even as the disruptions of growth, change, and forward movement rumble around us. No matter what we prioritize in project management, grace must always come first.

Continue to pray for one another and for the leaders in our congregation. Pray for our staff: present, past, and future. Pray for vision and energy. And do what you can to enact God’s love for you and all of us.

~ Pastor Macc