Physically Distanced but Spiritually Connected
Considering Habitat

one plant — several phases — from bud not yet open to after the seeding

Dear Mayfield,
This picture that I just discovered on my walk this morning reminds me of the life of a congregation. A snapshot of any congregation at a certain moment reveals people in varied stages of spiritual growth or in varied levels of knowledge on a particular issue or concern or in varied degrees of involvement in mission or outreach. Last night about fifteen of us gathered on Zoom for our first Mayfield Nature Talk.  Peggy was among us presenting on “Make Mine a Hummingbird Garden.” Regarding the topic, I was surely one of the people in that “virtual room” who knew the least amount about hummingbirds.  In the picture above I would have been a bud.  I only have one hummingbird story. During my training as a spiritual director, we had our first of five residential weeks in the high desert of New Mexico in August.  There was a hummingbird feeder at one end of the u-shaped casa where we gathered.  Much of the time, we met in the open courtyard framed by the casa, and I watched multiple hummingbirds regularly at the feeder. Their wings beat so quickly. As I observed them, I felt as though they visualized for us the fact that the busy activity of the world was being tended by others. We then were free to enter that time apart to take the deep, quiet dive into our souls necessary for our growth as those who would accompany others on their spiritual journeys. I sent more than one unspoken thank you in the direction of the hummingbirds that week.

I learned a good deal about hummingbirds last evening and how our Monarch Waystation and other gardening sites might keep their well being in mind. They are drawn to bright colors and water sounds.  Native plants are the most nectar-rich ones for them and also attract the native bugs that are a critical protein source in their diet. Open space interspersed in planted areas provides the environment for their characteristic darting flight patterns here and there.  And regular perching spots make life good for our hummingbird neighbors. Keeping all this hummingbird information in mind as well as data about many other creatures who share our garden spaces, results in a more complicated gardening practice.  Considering habitat realities beyond what humans want or prefer is a discipline we decide to assume for the sake of the common good of a broad and diverse community of plant and animal neighbors.  Last night we especially focused on a hummingbird’s healthy habitat.

As it goes in the garden, so it goes in the faith community. Habitat was not a category of theological or spiritual exploration in my nine years of study for either my Masters or my Doctoral degrees. However, across decades of ministry, it has become a significant metaphor of mine for who we are and how we are in our current context. The actions we take, the projects we fund, the awareness we develop, the language we use to pray and to praise, the stories we tell — do these reflect a commitment to a healthy, life-supporting habitat for a wider and wider community of neighbors, especially those neighbors who are most vulnerable?  What does it cost us to open up our perspective to the optimal habitat conditions for many different others?  Those are questions always appropriate for us to ask. Those are questions that root our lives firmly as creatures of the earth and as people of faith. I am grateful again to the hummingbirds for nudging me to voice such questions.
Peace, Martha

A Mission Request for Right Now
For the last eight years, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in DeKalb has been a partner in the local effort to provide school supplies for students who need them. In this Covid-19 time, that need has grown. On Saturday, August 8th, there will be a drive-up distribution of supplies packaged in backpacks at DeKalb High School. The cost per backpack with supplies is $11.  We can contribute to this effort in two ways as soon as possible and before August 8.  We can go on the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church website, press the Events tab and then the Back to School Bash tab to find the Donation Form button.  We can also send a donation directly to the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1201 Twombly Road, DeKalb, IL 60115.  If you send a donation to New Hope, make sure to mark it clearly for the Back to School Bash. Thank you