What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. – 1 Corinthians 14:26 (NRSV)
Paul is talking about worship here, but might he be talking about life too? What do you have to offer? How can you make a difference? Who has built you up? Who have you built up? What should be done then, my friends?
This was sent to me via e-mail:
I watched them tearing a building down, a gang of men in a busy town. With a ho-heave-ho and lusty yell, they swung a beam and a sidewall fell. I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled, as the men you’d hire if you had to build?” He gave me a laugh and said, “No indeed! Just common labor is all I need. I can easily wreck in a day or two what builders have taken a year to do.” And I thought to myself as I went my way, which of these two roles have I tried to play? Am I a builder who works with care, Measuring life by the rule and square? Am I shaping my deeds by a well-made plan, patiently doing the best I can? Or am I a wrecker who walks the town, Content with the labor of tearing down?
It is a question each one of us should ask; are we builders or destroyers? When we tear others down that is easy and quick. Recent studies say that children need to hear ten positive things about themselves to combat the negative psychological effects of every one bad thing they hear. We know this is true. A compliment runs off our backs like water, and a hurtful remark will stick with us for a long time. Therefore we must be in the business of building others up. It is what scripture commands us to do, and God knows it is what the world needs. It might take work, and we might have to put a fight, but it is the good fight!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A Time For Fellowship
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. – John 19:26-27 (NRSV)
Why do you think Jesus wanted to make sure these two had someone to care for them before he died? What may have been going through his mother’s mind? What about the beloved disciple’s mind? This is one of the last words Jesus spoke, what does it say about how we should live?
The following is a story about Marian Anderson that I have heard a couple of times.
Marian Anderson, an African-American singer who helped break down the walls of race, made her debut at Carnegie Hall, demonstrating to all a voice that is still considered one of the best ever today. At the end of the concert she sang “Ave Maria,” and people called her back for an encore, and then another, and then another, and she finally ended by singing, “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.” Her mother was sitting in the audience weeping. The person next to her asked her why she was crying when her daughter was doing so well, and she responded, “I’m crying for joy.”
She then recalled a moment when Marian was a girl saying, “I was working in a kitchen, my hands were burned, my face scalded, it was hard, but I did it so my daughter could get an education. I remember one day Marian came to me and said, ‘Mother, I don’t want you working like this.’ And I looked down at her and said, ‘Honey I don’t mind, I’m doing it for you and I expect great things from you.’”
Years later someone asked Marian Anderson what the happiest moment of her life was. “Was it when you made that debut in Carnegie Hall?” “No it wasn’t then.” “Was it the time you stood before the kings and queens of Europe?” “No it wasn’t then.” “Was it the moment in Finland when it was declared that the roof was too low for a voice such as yours?” “No it wasn’t then.” “Was it when Toscanini said that a voice like yours comes only once in a century?” “No it wasn’t then.” “What was it then Miss Anderson?” “The happiest moment in my life was the moment that I could say, ‘Mother, you can stop working now.’”
Jesus knew that no one could get anywhere by himself or herself. Each one of us has made it as far as we have because of hundreds, maybe even thousands of other people who have helped us along the way. People were not meant to be alone and cannot go through life alone. Knowing that people need fellowship, Jesus made sure that his mother and his beloved disciple received fellowship in each other. We now must become fellows to each other, and discover friends in others; it is the only way we can make it all!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Why do you think Jesus wanted to make sure these two had someone to care for them before he died? What may have been going through his mother’s mind? What about the beloved disciple’s mind? This is one of the last words Jesus spoke, what does it say about how we should live?
The following is a story about Marian Anderson that I have heard a couple of times.
Marian Anderson, an African-American singer who helped break down the walls of race, made her debut at Carnegie Hall, demonstrating to all a voice that is still considered one of the best ever today. At the end of the concert she sang “Ave Maria,” and people called her back for an encore, and then another, and then another, and she finally ended by singing, “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.” Her mother was sitting in the audience weeping. The person next to her asked her why she was crying when her daughter was doing so well, and she responded, “I’m crying for joy.”
She then recalled a moment when Marian was a girl saying, “I was working in a kitchen, my hands were burned, my face scalded, it was hard, but I did it so my daughter could get an education. I remember one day Marian came to me and said, ‘Mother, I don’t want you working like this.’ And I looked down at her and said, ‘Honey I don’t mind, I’m doing it for you and I expect great things from you.’”
Years later someone asked Marian Anderson what the happiest moment of her life was. “Was it when you made that debut in Carnegie Hall?” “No it wasn’t then.” “Was it the time you stood before the kings and queens of Europe?” “No it wasn’t then.” “Was it the moment in Finland when it was declared that the roof was too low for a voice such as yours?” “No it wasn’t then.” “Was it when Toscanini said that a voice like yours comes only once in a century?” “No it wasn’t then.” “What was it then Miss Anderson?” “The happiest moment in my life was the moment that I could say, ‘Mother, you can stop working now.’”
Jesus knew that no one could get anywhere by himself or herself. Each one of us has made it as far as we have because of hundreds, maybe even thousands of other people who have helped us along the way. People were not meant to be alone and cannot go through life alone. Knowing that people need fellowship, Jesus made sure that his mother and his beloved disciple received fellowship in each other. We now must become fellows to each other, and discover friends in others; it is the only way we can make it all!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Our Need for Community
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone…” – Genesis 2:18 (NRSV)
What does it mean to you that God wanted Adam to have company? Why do you think God wanted that? What is life like for someone who is alone? Why is good not to be alone?
As I drove toward the church earlier today I saw a massive flock of birds flying together. There must have been several hundred flying in a formation that resembled a school of fish in the sky. They flew as birds often fly, together changing direction instantaneously toward some goal of which they alone are aware.
While watching this dance take place I noticed a solitary bird flying aimlessly across the horizon. Not quite sure where to go, not quite sure what to do, she was alone and I was sad for the bird. But soon the solitary bird encountered the flock, and somehow immediately entered into the magical dance with the others. Her flight no longer bore the uncertainty of her loneliness, but exemplified the triumph that can only be awarded to one who knows that community is needed to make one whole.
Perhaps that is why God said it is not good that man should be alone. We need to be with others to be whole. When we are happy we have to share our joy. Where do you share your joy? When we are in despair and need we have to have others who can love us and help us. Where do you find such wonderful people? God says of each of us, “It is not good that you should be alone,” and God is right because we were created to be in community. If you do not have a community where you can feel whole go find one. There are many churches that might just be that place where you are embraced with love. If you already have such a community go find those who are flying alone. There are many people that might just need your embrace of love so they know they are not alone.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does it mean to you that God wanted Adam to have company? Why do you think God wanted that? What is life like for someone who is alone? Why is good not to be alone?
As I drove toward the church earlier today I saw a massive flock of birds flying together. There must have been several hundred flying in a formation that resembled a school of fish in the sky. They flew as birds often fly, together changing direction instantaneously toward some goal of which they alone are aware.
While watching this dance take place I noticed a solitary bird flying aimlessly across the horizon. Not quite sure where to go, not quite sure what to do, she was alone and I was sad for the bird. But soon the solitary bird encountered the flock, and somehow immediately entered into the magical dance with the others. Her flight no longer bore the uncertainty of her loneliness, but exemplified the triumph that can only be awarded to one who knows that community is needed to make one whole.
Perhaps that is why God said it is not good that man should be alone. We need to be with others to be whole. When we are happy we have to share our joy. Where do you share your joy? When we are in despair and need we have to have others who can love us and help us. Where do you find such wonderful people? God says of each of us, “It is not good that you should be alone,” and God is right because we were created to be in community. If you do not have a community where you can feel whole go find one. There are many churches that might just be that place where you are embraced with love. If you already have such a community go find those who are flying alone. There are many people that might just need your embrace of love so they know they are not alone.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
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