Tonight, I heard a brother pray something that touched my heart. He prayed about eliminating "cliques" and strengthening relationships within and outside the church community. He prayed for God to give us BIG hearts, hearts that house not only our own interests, but the interests of those around us as well. Hearts that reach out to those who need reaching out the most. He prayed for sensitivity; for us to hear the calls of those whose voice we may not hear because we aren't paying that much attention.
This touched me. Because I know what it's like to be outside of a community. I know what it's like to "feel" like I'm outside a community. But I also know what it's like to be a part of one and how wonderful and blessed it can feel.
It's possible to be in one and feel like you're not. Seriously.
Because I've felt that way. Sometimes I still do. See, here's one of the most vulnerable parts of my wall: that part of my mind that thinks that no one cares. I'm sure that's not just me. I'm sure there are quite a few people out there who think that, even if it's a wrong assumption, that the community will get along just fine without them. It's so easy to think that since no one calls or checks in or visits, that no one must care. At least not enough to pick up the phone or drive up here. It's also very easy to stop caring about it... to stop wanting to be reached out to... and eventually to stop wanting to be in the community altogether. It's easy... but it hurts. Because part of being human is wanting to be in communion with others. We survive in packs, so they say. And without the pack, an individual is weak and vulnerable and very lonely. Without community, it's easy to get into trouble and lose our ways.
Which is why it's so important to reach out to others. It doesn't matter who it is. It may be the person whom you see ALL the time or the person you see the least of. It may be the person you think is part of the "crew" or the person who only shows up once in a while. I'll tell you this: a smile to me or a "how are you?" goes a REALLY freakin long way. I have a good friend who made another friend cry just by saying "how are you?" ((winks)) Want to go further than that? Go visit a person you don't normally hang out with. Give someone a call; ask him/her how he/she is doing.
It feels good to feel like you're in a community, right? But if it's too comfortable, then you're not doing enough to reach out to others. We can all keep praying about getting rid of cliques. OR we can be like Nehemiah and do this: pray AND act. Change starts with us. So not only pray, but do. Have a big heart. Think of others. Share with others. Pray with others. Fellowship with others. Be sensitive. It's really not enough to want change... we have to act on it. We have to challenge ourselves and be the change we want to see.
I've always wondered what kind of ministry I'll be called to do. And I feel like I'm walking into one right now. But hey, it's not a one-person ministry. Not at all. We're all called to do this: to fellowship with and serve each other lovingly. Actually, it might not even be a ministry, per se. It's "the Christian life," isn't it?
***
LYN
This touched me. Because I know what it's like to be outside of a community. I know what it's like to "feel" like I'm outside a community. But I also know what it's like to be a part of one and how wonderful and blessed it can feel.
It's possible to be in one and feel like you're not. Seriously.
Because I've felt that way. Sometimes I still do. See, here's one of the most vulnerable parts of my wall: that part of my mind that thinks that no one cares. I'm sure that's not just me. I'm sure there are quite a few people out there who think that, even if it's a wrong assumption, that the community will get along just fine without them. It's so easy to think that since no one calls or checks in or visits, that no one must care. At least not enough to pick up the phone or drive up here. It's also very easy to stop caring about it... to stop wanting to be reached out to... and eventually to stop wanting to be in the community altogether. It's easy... but it hurts. Because part of being human is wanting to be in communion with others. We survive in packs, so they say. And without the pack, an individual is weak and vulnerable and very lonely. Without community, it's easy to get into trouble and lose our ways.
Which is why it's so important to reach out to others. It doesn't matter who it is. It may be the person whom you see ALL the time or the person you see the least of. It may be the person you think is part of the "crew" or the person who only shows up once in a while. I'll tell you this: a smile to me or a "how are you?" goes a REALLY freakin long way. I have a good friend who made another friend cry just by saying "how are you?" ((winks)) Want to go further than that? Go visit a person you don't normally hang out with. Give someone a call; ask him/her how he/she is doing.
It feels good to feel like you're in a community, right? But if it's too comfortable, then you're not doing enough to reach out to others. We can all keep praying about getting rid of cliques. OR we can be like Nehemiah and do this: pray AND act. Change starts with us. So not only pray, but do. Have a big heart. Think of others. Share with others. Pray with others. Fellowship with others. Be sensitive. It's really not enough to want change... we have to act on it. We have to challenge ourselves and be the change we want to see.
I've always wondered what kind of ministry I'll be called to do. And I feel like I'm walking into one right now. But hey, it's not a one-person ministry. Not at all. We're all called to do this: to fellowship with and serve each other lovingly. Actually, it might not even be a ministry, per se. It's "the Christian life," isn't it?
***
LYN
