The Church as Prairie: A New Analogy

In recent years I have usually described the Catholic church as "the BIG ship" that could safely ferry its members along life's spiritual journey towards the golden port of heaven. I don't intend to unpack this because it appears a great many others have adopted this already as their prime example. Because the ship metaphor lacks a more organic and human element, I sunk the metal ship and cast my gaze upon something so elemental and beautifully ordinary: The Prairie.

The seeds embedded in the prairie can be in the ground for many years before they might have a chance to germinate. When those seeds do grow, a blessed biodiversity of plants emerge that both welcome and sustain animals, birds and insects. It is a fragrant place that lays its garland upon flat or hilly ground; gently shaping the land and putting forth a magnificent array of colors and textures.

Enter the invaders such as the Russian Olive trees that grow to about 15' tall and crowd out everything underneath; eliminating that blessed biodiversity except for the long stringy grasses that deer, another invasive presence, like to sleep upon. Sericea Lespedeza or Chinese Bushclover was introduced into the prairie in hopes it would provide hay, improve pastures, stop soil erosion and supply food for cover for wildlife. Unfortunately, it released a toxin into the soil that also eliminates the original biodiversity. These are but a few of newcomers that drain the beauty and vibrancy from the prairie.

The prairie has an unlikely bosom partner who helps to ensure that it remains pure as possible even if that means death. FIRE is as much constitutive to the prairie as the rains, soil and sun that nourish it. Even as the fires naturally come and burn it to the ground, the roots remain and once more offer the prairie the possibility for restoration and rebalance. 

I'll be frank here: The clericalism, emphasis on juridical purity and heavy doctrine and rejection of psychological and human anthropology within church leadership has overshadowed the original biodiversity and caused it to lose its identity. The truth is that God created humanity to grow and prosper, so the origins of the church are as close as the ground of our being, namely the God within. The fire of the Spirit has already begun to burn the ground in many part of the church but some foolishly or arrogantly stand with their buckets, sprinklers or even firehoses thinking they can prevent the fires from doing their job. With all kindness and understanding, I realize some simply don't want to let go of all they've known as church.

Even as far back as with Moses and the nascent people of the covenant, there was Eldad and Medad who for some reason weren't selected as part of the 70 men selected from among the elders to stand around the Tent of Meeting and prophesy. When these two prophesied back at camp, some complained to Moses. Perturbed by the man's protestation, he exclaimed, "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!" - Numbers 11:29. The truth is that God has indeed sent his Spirit upon all the people who ARE the church.   

The fires have come and are still burning.

The church as prairie will find its rebirth....a blessed spiritual diversity of presence that will reveal the intent of the grand architect of Divine Love.