The Second Half Collaborative: A view from above the tree tops
~ by Nathan Burke
Photo from Unsplash, by Alfred Aloushy
In his novel The Hobbit, author JRR Tolkien includes a scene that reminds me of how I experienced the Second Half Collaborative ten-month learning environment.
Bilbo and the dwarves find themselves lost in an old, dark, overgrown forest. There is little air and light, and their path only leads in circles. Confusion and frustration mount for this small band of travelers. In desperation Bilbo climbs a tree hoping beyond hope for some kind of direction.
As his head emerges from the crown of leaves and branches, his face is bathed in sunlight. With a deep gasp, he fills his lungs with fresh air. Bilbo’s climb is rewarded when, far out in the distance, his eyes behold their desired destination. He and his friends are encouraged as direction and hope are restored for the journey that lies ahead.
The Second Half Collaborative offered me a tree to climb—a place to get my head above the forest of my life—and to bask in a deeper experience of God’s love for me— to breath the fresh air of new life rhythms. The perspective from that vantage point helps me to reaffirm both my destination (calling and purpose) as well as to chart a better path for the journey ahead.
Without this perspective—when we are tired, disillusioned, unsure, confused and frustrated—it can feel like our lives are closing in around us. It may feel like we have no choice but to trudge ahead into a less than desirable reality that we just have to accept.
As for me, with this renewed perspective, I am deeply encouraged to hear how others have gone before and done this well.
This is not an exercise in theory.
I am aware that my way of living in the second half will flow with a different rhythm than the first half. I have tools to help me nurture a deeper connection with Christ. I am filled with hope that there is untapped potential for an even deeper and more fulfilling season of living out my purpose and call for the glory of God.
