In the earlier years of adult life, I tended to be a “Lone Ranger,” doing life on my own. My desire to finish tasks in what I considered to be an efficient way took priority over building relationships and teams. With time, I discovered that experiences are richer when shared, that results are much more lasting when they are a team effort, and that both wisdom and steadiness are found in mutual relationships.
As I ponder the days ahead, approaching my 70th birthday, I know with greater clarity just how important those connections with others are. I recently stood at the hospital bedside of a man I have known for years who is truly alone. No longer able to care for himself, his situation is tragic and desperate. I’m sure he regrets the bridges burnt and relationships severed when he was stronger and able to live on his own terms in the world. Now, he needs others and has no one!
Are you investing yourself in others, serving sacrificially, loving fully, engaged in the ‘give and take’ of human relationships? The core value of the Christian life is LOVE, not the cheap sentiment of a greeting card, but the deep and profound connections with others that nourish us in this world.
The first generation of Christians practiced a radical kind of hospitality, accepting others, mutually encouraged by complementary spiritual gifts. Their communities of love were noted by the world in which they lived. Were their churches perfect? No way. Paul corrected and cajoled Believers who allowed themselves to be divided in factions to restore the unity of Christ. But they did, much more than we do, understand the importance of being ‘together,’ built into a temple from which Christ’s goodness shined.
The Word reminds us of our mutual need. “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. … The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. … God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.” (1 Corinthians 12)
The more we understand the call to connect and choose to live with love and acceptance of others, the greater the beauty of the Church will be, the more effective she will be in her mission, and the more joy we will find in the journey! We cannot just nod our heads and go on living as critics, judges of others, or “Lone Rangers” IF we want to please Christ and finish the race well.
One of the great benefits of strong relationships with our ‘brothers and sisters’ in the faith is steadiness. Everyone of us will encounter storms in life. All kinds of situations will arise, some of our own making, some just seeming to happen to us without evident cause, which will threaten to overwhelm us. We can draw from the resources of relationships when this is our way and be held up, steadied on the way.
When my late wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer 11 years ago, it felt like life had come to a full stop. I wondered how I would survive if my best friend, my partner, my lover was taken in death. What I found was the power of the love of others. My children surrounded us with love and support. Our church family gave love in myriad ways. After her death, so many gave me space to grieve and appropriate encouragement to go on! It is beyond my imagination to know what life might have been like without those rich relationships.
Again, let me ask, are you investing in others? That phrase is intentional! Strong, supportive relationships do not just happen. They are created and built over time with intention, commitment, love, and time. It’s not too late to begin!
I close with a dramatic story from Exodus. Moses, the amazingly strong leader of the Israelites, led them boldly out of Egypt. At first, he tried to lead alone but was exhausted by his work. He changed tactics and built a team. One day, this was his experience. Check it out.
“So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.” (Exodus 17)
Who will hold up your hands during the battle? Think about it! Amen.
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