The Blog of Steve

Chrysalis Reflections

Well as I am on my flight to Melbourne I thought I would take the chance to reflect on my Chrysalis experience while it is still fresh in my mind.

Well after getting off to a bit of a false start last year with Chrysalis, I have finally experienced it. The bit of back story surrounding the false start is that I was asked to go (ie: someone offered to sponsor me to go) last year, but I had also been called to attend the 11th National Assembly, preventing me from going. While I felt bad for missing it at the time, with inherent guilt that is associated to saying no to sponsorship, when looking back over the last 12 months, I do believe that it was providential and that last year was not the right time.

The weekend itself is built around a combination of extreme service to the attendees, table group Bible studies and worship. There were also a number of additional times of prayer and periods of reflection throughout the duration, as well as a sharing of communion. The weekend also includes a candle lighting service as well as receiving of letters from friends and family at the end of the weekend. The thing that needs to be mentioned about Chrysalis is that it is (or I found it to be) a very experientially orientated event. Hence why it can be difficult to fully articulate exactly why it was very good. The letters from friends and loved ones coming at the end of the course were also very challenging and powerful, but I am unsure as to exactly why this was so. None the less, they were very much appreciated.

One of the other elements that was present in this activity that I believe to be very valuable is the fact that it is a lay run event, with only minimal guidance from clergy. I thought that it was fantastic to see people who have been impacted by previous Chrysalis experiences being given the chance to participate in the ministry over the course of the weekend. In short, I think that they will likely have gotten just as much out of it, if not more, than many of the actual participants for whom the weekend was being run to serve.

With the prospect of moving into full time service constantly on my mind, I think that this weekend came at an excellent time to simply stop, reflect and refuel. Simply put it feels very much like someone standing upon a mountain range looking out upon an unknown land into which they must enter, as opposed to staying put somewhere familiar. While I am very much excited and do feel that it is the only thing that I can do, there is the anxiety that comes with departing from the area of work in which I have studied for since the middle of high school, but also in choosing a separate path to those with whom I have shared so much of my life. While I know that they will still be there, it still saddens me greatly that I may not be there to share with them in their professional life, especially given that this has been a primary area in which I have been able to maintain contact with these peers. The same thing can also be said of those who I have come to know through my work in the Army Reserve, which it becoming increasingly apparent that will not be able to co-exist with the schedule of full time ministry.

At the same time I found this to be a valuable weekend of affirmation. The emphasis placed on showing Agape (the Love of God) was surprisingly challenging. I was constantly amazed by the love shown towards the participants, which when considered is also only a dim reflection of that shown to us every minute of the day by the Lord. The other unexpected surprises came from the interactions with the leaders those who were on course with me. I was further surprised and impressed with the actual Chrysalis/Emmaus community who were present to support us at various points during the three days. I think that remembering that these networks of supportive and loving people are present in the church is of great encouragement when moving into such community orientated work.

We were also given a considerable amount of little thingies throughout the duration, and and the end got given one of these: (which all those who had done Chrysalis prior seemed to have)

As much as I am loathed to be going straight to Melbourne after doing this weekend, I do think that having a break from busy life, like the break found when on course with the Army, will be highly beneficial. I get the feeling already that this is one of those camps/experiences which continue to have impact as they sink in over a period of time.

Fly with Christ.