Coping with complexity
Reflections
“Our community of faith ‘The Church’ has also become very complex. This leads to the call that as a community of faith we need to treat each other with more sensitivity, being very mindful and careful of what we say and do…Therefore, we need to be non-judgemental when our views do not align with the views of others around us,” says The Rev’d Rebecca King from The Parish of Yeronga and the Anglican Board of Mission
Life is a very complex and unknown territory. We do our bit to make a difference around our loved ones and the complex world we live in, day in and day out.
In 2018 for my ordination as a priest I received a gift, that was marked as “Welcome, Rebecca, to the complicated world of the English language, Blessings.” The word “Blessings” was to me as hope, and the key in the face of the complexity I was about to step into.
Therefore, I say thank you so much for those written words. I believe that those words were motivation, preparing me to enter the unknown with an open mind to face complexity. So, since that day, I knew I was entering a complex world. Knowing this encouraged me to take on the challenge of complexity, fixing my eyes on Christ Jesus, my hope. I couldn’t have made it to where I am today if it wasn’t for prayers, faith and taking advice of those I trust, and not taking things for granted.
I have experienced a lot of complexity in this unknown world, from language to race. But through respect and unjudgmental impression, I was able to survive and stand till today. I took things one step at a time acknowledging that critical thinking removes the complexity of the situation.
I believe complex territories make us creative if we take the challenge to face complexity seriously. That attitude will enable us to unpack the puzzle of our complex lives with great success.
The secret to success is the world of complexity itself, which allows us to stretch ourselves by pushing unknown boundaries with respect and questioning things in order to get things right with understanding. That way we will reach the common ground, then solutions and results by making ourselves familiar with the unknown. This is the case when cultures collide with each other, as we make room for one another without overreaching to another’s side. Furthermore, through complexity, new opportunities are borne, new discoveries are achieved, new equipment comes to life and new creativities emerge.
Complexity in science enables scientists to reach successful research achievements, uncovering the mystery of the unknown and making it known to us.
The world today has become a very complex place. Along with complexity, COVID-19 introduced uncertainty in health and different aspects of our lives, from deaths globally, economic struggle, loss of jobs, impact in mental health status, climate change and other things. This constantly makes our lives unstable.
Our community of faith “The Church” has also become very complex. This leads to the call that as a community of faith we need to treat each other with more sensitivity, being very mindful and careful of what we say and do – critically examining our actions. For our actions speaks louder than our words. Therefore, we need to be non-judgemental when our views do not align with the views of others around us.
So, in that situation in a complex zone if things go wrong, just go for it till you get it right! For, this is the only way to true discovery. If you get it wrong, well, we are a community of faith. We’ve got the gift of confession and forgiveness; this is the only road and ticket to reach to the other side of complexity. This will be marked by unconditional love and loving of the unlovable.
Thus, we will be able to reach to the breakthrough of the complexity. Bringing the dignity of all regardless of their of races, ethics, cultures and languages.
Finally, today we are facing the most complex unknown world that requires the acts of love, justice and respect. Though our world is constantly becoming complex, let us not lose heart. Through Christ there is hope and blessings when we as a community of faith take things one step at a time in the face of the most complex world. We have hope in the last words of Christ, who assured us we are never alone no matter what. Amen
First published in the December 2022 edition of The Eagle, the magazine of St John’s Cathedral. Read the latest edition of The Eagle online.
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