Wild Minds

Our most recent season at Ocean Church involved exploring the idea of having Wild Minds.

It was an intentional time of considering how our thoughts link to faith. Additionally, it was the

first time I have explored the topic of neurodiversity within a church context. Some moments

from the last few months stand out. One of these was trying to depict my mind using items

could be found on the beach, such as sticks, shells and stones Try it – the process can

teach you, even if the end image doesn’t seem to reveal much! During another session, we

were asked whether we liked our minds. It was humbling to listen to others sharing

vulnerably about the challenges presented in living with their minds.

As part of the focus on Wild Minds, we hosted a book club at our house where we read

content where either the authors or the characters they included had neurodiversity of some

sort. It stimulated conversation about some of the challenges members of our community

have dealt with and face to this day with living with their own or a family member’s

neurodiversity. Hearing new voices helped me to understand in greater depth the journeys

that others are on.

Another way that Ocean Church facilitated this was through organising the Big Table

initiative. For us that involved three households, three Sundays in October and three meals.

Each week of our Big Table experience involved a focus on the hosts, generally driven by

questions from the guests. Our children asked and answered too and across the three

weeks an eclectic range of topics were covered. We discussed, among other things, what

the best thing about being in our family was, our favourite places, empowering teenagers,

favourite colours, the church in Spain and France, how we all ended up in Dorset and of

course, ‘Why Ocean Church?’

Being part of the Big Table gave us a shared experience of community and a wider window

into each other’s lives. Friendships and relationships were deepened; it felt a precious and

encouraging time. We were able to understand the contexts we come from better and learn

about each other’s passions. It’s been special and we are fortunate to have met up again

since and have put another date in the diary to gather, eat and share together.

On Christmas Day on the beach when we gathered as a church, we were asked if there

were a star leading us into the next year, where we thought it might be heading. I found this

challenging – is there a destination that I can articulate myself as heading towards at the

moment? At times this is helpful analogy: in fact, I have already referred to a journey earlier

in this blog. I am reminded though too that in the second chapter of Matthew, it says the star

stopped over the house where Jesus was. Sometimes it is important to stop like the Magi

and be present where you are.

It has become clearer to me from exploring the theme of Wild Minds that depth is important

in understanding of each other. Making time to dig deeper has been important. It has been a

privilege to be part of that in different ways. At the beginning of a new year, it is a reminder to

encourage us to reveal more of the layers of ourselves and allow others to see who we more

deeply are.