The Elevator Speech

Perhaps you have heard of the “elevator speech”? You know, where members of organizations are challenged to define themselves in the time it takes to ride on an elevator for a few floors. (As a fascinating aside, I should note that I generally do not talk on elevators. It is just not acceptable behavior for introverts. A smile, nod of the head, or if I am feeling wildly reckless, perhaps an offer to push a floor number.) I am lousy at the elevator speech for FAW. I have a hard time describing us in a few sentences.

Relational

If the elevator broke down and gave me more time, I would probably talk about relational Christianity, and call. Those two things have been at our heart since the beginning. We believe that life is fundamentally relational – our Creator is relational (If not, why would God have gone to the ends of the earth to be in relationship with us?). Created in God’s image, we too are relational – designed, built, and hungry to be connected to others. Even introverts like myself.

As a way to focus what we mean by this type of Christianity, in FAW we talk about four primary relationships: To God, self, others and creation. Most of what happens in life seems to fit under one of those relational categories, and it also recognizes a creative tension we often feel (As in, “I have only two free hours this weekend – which relationship gets those two hours?”; or “Recycling takes time away from my self care, but is better for the earth – do I do it?”)

Called

Which brings us to the second aspect of our identity. Figuring out ten-sions like the above are questions of call. We haven’t always used this word “call”, and sometimes we wonder if it is the best word. But we have chosen it because we believe that it says something important about the way we are invited to live. We name that process of listening to the Spirit’s leading as “call”. We are talking simply about the process of listening for God in our daily lives. And with the help of others, (there is the relational part again), trying to walk in that way. Most of our retreats invite people to consider what is next for them in some way, shape or form – those are call questions. Most of the magazine articles are about people trying to put their faith to work in the world in some way – that is call too.

Bringing the Two Together

Last weekend I was on a men’s retreat, and a first timer asked me about Faith At Work. I asked him to step into an elevator so I could try an answer. More or less, this is what I said: “FAW is an ecumenical ministry committed to creating safe and sacred space that enables people to hear and respond to God’s calls in their lives”. I recalled our shared roots with AA, and how we understand that people coming together to create safe and sacred space make changed lives happen. We know this because we have seen it happen over and over through the years. Where there is trust, there is honesty. Where there is honesty and support, God can change us.

This Year in the Magazine

And there you have our magazine theme for the year. We are looking at each of the four relationships – God, Self, Others, Creation–through the lens of call. Throughout the year, our writers will be asking questions like: “How do we know when it is God calling?” “What is my call right now?” “How might my call help others?” “How do my calls impact my relationship with creation?” Along with these articles, we will be offering columns to help small groups and churches become places where calls are heard and supported.

See you on the elevator (I’ll be the quiet one staring straight ahead.).

ON THE ROAD WITH DOUG

New York, NY/Marble Collegiate Church . . . . . . . . . . . March 10-12
Columbia, MD/Howard County Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 15
Pasadena, CA/ Fuller Seminary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 21-23
Washington, DC/ Seekers Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April 16
Royersford, PA/Royersford Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . . April 30
Germantown, MD/FAW Board Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . .May 11-14
Bethany Beach, MI/100 Year Anniversary . . . . . . . . . . .July 18-22
Sawyer, MI/Executive Committee Meeting . . . . . . . . . .August 4-6

Doug Wysockey-Johnson is the Executive Director of Faith At Work. He, his wife Kathryn, their daughter Isabel Marie, and their son Soren William live in Arlington VA. Read about his call and vision for his journey ahead.