Earlier this morning I gazed over the still waters of Martha Lake that reflected a crystal blue sky. It was a rare site for a November morning in the Pacific Northwest where gray skies are the norm. The air was frigid, and although my home was warm, my soul was chilled by nagging feelings of isolation, loneliness and a bit of fear.
My husband and I are just a little over a month into a new journey in our life and ministry. This morning was one of those times when I questioned our sanity. I began wondering if we had risked too much this time. We are definitely out on a limb!
Here’s the story: Believing we need to follow God’s clear call in our lives, we set out to focus time and energy into ministry with our generation. We are developing and enhancing Re-Ignite, offering retreats and coaching to churches, communities and individuals, and designing two or three new ministry initiatives. We are being trained as coaches and advocates.
In order to be free to follow this unique calling, we sold our home, put our possessions into a storage unit, and moved into an apartment. My husband quit his day job, and we began fundraising on behalf of our organization.
The definition of being out on a limb is “to put oneself in an isolated or disadvantaged position in one’s support of someone or something.” The words ring true. We believe in the Boomers, our peers. 
And as we all grow older we, presumably, will grow increasingly aware of all that has been given to us. Hopefully, we will be inclined to work toward meeting the needs of people as well as invest in the potential of the next generations. We believe God has a unique purpose for this vibrant, determined, educated, talented, and aging generation.
In the back yard of the home we just sold is a 50-year-old apple tree. If you were to look at it from a distance, you would think the tree has two trunks. But up close you realize the trunk is growing completely horizontal — parallel to the ground for about two feet. A round log, taken from the woodpile, holds this crazy limb up. It measures about 1 foot high, and six inches round. It looks like the second trunk but it is just a support for the limb. Picturing that tree reminds me that while we may feel out on a limb, we are actually being held up by some very strong support.
Last week a group of friends helped prepare supplies and notebooks for a Re-Ignite Retreat. We couldn’t have done it without them. Family members helped pack boxes, and strong-backed friends moved them. A few days ago several brothers and sisters from our church came to our home to listen, encourage and pray for us. Yesterday, a dear widow friend promised to donate financially to our ministry – every month! I have bouquets of flowers and handwritten cards lining my counter – all encouraging us to follow hard after God. We may be going out on a limb, but there are supporters of all kinds holding us up!
Mark Twain once said, “Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is!”
Out on a limb seems like a pretty good place to be on this cold outside – warm inside Pacific Northwest Day!
by Leona Bergstrom, Director, Re-Ignite
Picture © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Lauriebarr
