Scouting the Divine: Q&A with Margaret Feinberg

Catalyst Monthly recently caught up with our friend, Margaret Feinberg, a popular author, speaker and veteran of Catalyst gatherings to talk about hew new book, Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool, & Wild Honey.

Catalyst Monthly: We’ve heard some crazy rumors that you’ve been on an adventure searching for God in the countryside. Is it true? Are you becoming a monk?

Margaret: It’s true. It’s all true - except the monk part. I’ve been hanging out with people who grow grapes, tend sheep, and take care of bees all so I can get a better grasp of who God is and what God is really communicating to us through the Scripture that draws on these themes. My journey became the basis of Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool, & Wild Honey (October, Zondervan).

Catalyst Monthly: Now that's interesting. What’s made you want to write about that?

Margaret: During my own times of study, I’ve become increasingly aware that the Bible was written in an agrarian context, but I live in modern suburbia world. When the scriptures talk about themes of harvest and seasons, I understand them with my head but not my heart. I thought that if I learned more about these foreign things I'd understand the scriptures better - and perhaps understand more clearly what God is saying.

I travelled to Oregon to spend time with a shepherdess and her flock, Nebraska to visit a farmer and his nephew, southern Colorado to peek inside a beehive, and California to learn about viticulture. Along the way, I opened the scriptures, asking each person how they read various passages, not as a theologians, but in light of what they do every day. Their answers illuminated passages of the Bible in a whole new way and deepened my relationship with God. I learned so much I’m still growing spiritually because of it.

Catalyst Monthly: Travelling to Napa Valley to hang out with a vintner doesn’t exactly sound like tough gig.

Margaret: (Laughing) You got me on that one. My time with Kristof among the vineyard was amazing. Not only was it beautiful, but to sit down with someone whose passion is growing the highest quality grapes possible and ask them, “What does it mean to abide in the vine?” and “What really goes on when you prune a vine?” and “How do you read John 15?”

Catalyst Monthly: Share with us one of the unique things you learned. Just a little story or an insight you got that might be particularly interesting to our leaders.

Margaret: I think every pastor in America would be encouraged by reading the portion of Scouting the Divine on shepherding. It speaks to what it means to care for a flock, nurture the lambs, and lead well. For me, one of the many spiritual takeaways from my time with the shepherdess is that the best possible place for a sheep to be is in a flock. If left to its own devices, a sheep will wander off and its fate is predictable. It will be devoured by predators, overindulge or starve to death, or be infected by parasites. The result is always the same: death.

Just as sheep are meant to be among the flock under the watchful eye of a good shepherd, so, too, we are meant to live and flourish in a flock under the watchful eye of our Good Shepherd. Among the flock, I was reminded of just how much I need among a community of believers. I need the local church. We all need the local church. And I think that’s a message that needs to resound at this moment in history. 

Catalyst Monthly: And you’re going to be sharing more about this with us next month at the Catalyst labs and Catalyst event?

Margaret: I can’t wait to see you and everyone else there!

2 Comments »

1. Margaret’s rediscovery of our need to be part of the flock is especially important in a day when individual spirituality is challenging the Christian Faith, which requires us to be a part of the body (I Cor. 12) (mixing the metaphors) and the need to live in community with other believers, which we call the church.  Her journey into the rural life was well worth the effort.

   Comment by George Nye - Sep 07, 2009 @ 04:47 PM

2. This is truly a breath of fresh air—inspiring! It’s acts and thoughts such as these that bring to the forefront, what true priorities are. Working together and for one purpose, in any venue, will always lead to greater success!

   Comment by Beth Thomas - Sep 17, 2009 @ 02:47 PM

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