Those moments in the conversation when you recognize another conversation going on inside you saying, “How do I get to be among such multi-faceted, well-read, broadly studied and stunningly thoughtful people?”
Maybe because quarantine has brought out the beauty of what we miss…or the reality of what we forget. We are created to be
members of one another.
graphic source – https://dribbble.com
Then there are those other moments when you think, “I’ve had enough of these clueless, unreasonable people…”
A young acquaintance of mine has aptly shared his draw to community after feeling the lure to leave his fellowship because of hassle, imperfection, immaturity and, well…humanity. We can easily think of ourselves too highly than we ought (Romans 12:3) instead of agreeing to disagree on disputable matters (Romans 14:1) and working toward unity on the main things.
“The church on top of Mount Nebo was destroyed by an earthquake and subsequently ransacked multiple times. Do you know what the guardians of that holy land did? They rebuilt it. They beautified it. They made it a place of worship and praise. Is that our response to believers when their life is shaken and crumbled and pillaged and taken advantage of?
Admittedly, I have wanted to disconnect from the local Body several times because of petty infighting, slothfulness and such. I’ve joked before that if I was Moses leading the people out of Israel, all of the elderly, young and aloof would have lagged behind and died as I trail blazed ahead. However, I don’t think I would do that actually, because of Holy Spirit. The X Factor. The Game Changer. He constrains me. Grabs me. Enraptures me. Impassions me with the love of Christ that has no bias, discrimination, nor holds record of wrong. The Holy Spirit causes us to see life, the meaning of holiness, and people differently. It is no longer an option to disregard any individual, give them the cold shoulder, when I know that our Savior died to make them holy. Jesus has a raging jealousy for that individual. He wants them to know His love that makes them holy and a completely new creation. His interest is to restore, rebuild, and to beautify.” Nick A
What is something you are learning during quarantine about the connection of your soul with community?
“…we are all members of one another.”
Ephesians 4:25 (BSB)