Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
It's the last Pause for Lent.
I've struggled about what to post hence why I've left it till now. I've struggled to write quite a few of these posts. Maybe it was the poem- it seemed obvious, what more could I say that wouldn't be just words. I just prayed just now and the following literally leapt into my brain at the start:
I increasingly find that in this present age, much serves to try and isolate us from each other be it internet shopping, kindles (i.e. no library). Don't get me wrong, these are great things in themselves and in a sense promote community (i.e. bloggin!) but the ultimate combination can result in isolation.
Community has never been so important in this current age. We need it, we need to nurture it, value it and work at it.
My home group from church have been talking about serving our community. What are our community's needs. There was a little bit of a difference of opinion over it. I questioned whether people actually know what they need/want. We are so wrapped up in ourselves that we don't always think about it. Another teacher agreed with me. She said that some parents don't know what they need, they can't articulate it or fathom it out. Others said that our community wants to feel safe, protected, wants to feel that they can walk out without fear of attack, without worrying. That's something we cannot do alone. It takes responsibility from all of us. For us to be alert, help others, reassure them.
Community starts from God. Prayer is never a thing you do alone. It's always a duet! God is there, even if you struggle to hear his voice or think you haven't/don't hear it at all. He never answers in the way you think but he does, nonetheless. He is there to listen if only I could be patient and WAIT to hear his voice instead of wanting instant gratification like all this technology offers and expecting him to pick up and give a simple answer. He's bigger than that! I can have no concept of what he is really like other than that if he is eternal, his concept of time is a lot different to mine!! It takes trust and it takes time and it takes belief. Faith is not being given a big obvious piece of undeniable proof, it's being certain of what you believe and being certain of what you hope for without seeing it.
The church is built on fellowship. It isn't meant to be something you do on your own. You and God Alongside You and a community. Yes, the church or community you are in might not be ideal, it might be irritating, you might not want to 'mix' with the people there (Read C.S. Lewis' writings in the Screwtape letters for thoughts on this), I for instance felt highly irritated with the church warden who told me to go and sit with the choir yesterday even though I had missed practice and wanted to sit at the back (as he surely realised I thought at the time but maybe he just wanted to reassure me it was ok to go to the front!), but they are a fellowship, they are brothers and sisters. Anytime I find myself irritated with anyone (because we are human. Christians are not robots who don't experience the difficulties. We make mistakes, we can be mean, we can be unkind but we should try again and hopefully we are trying to put it right! Don't think because someone Christian was mean to you that therefore it is all nonsense) Yes, there are people that use it wrongly and that is awful. We all hear the tales of people who have done wrong and they should be held accountable but loving those around us in general life is something to work at.
Struggles aren't meant to be faced alone. They are meant to be faced with God and with a fellowship of Those around.
I cannot do it alone.
Or in this concept, more appropriately:
We cannot do it alone.
xx
Clik here to view.
It's the last Pause for Lent.I've struggled about what to post hence why I've left it till now. I've struggled to write quite a few of these posts. Maybe it was the poem- it seemed obvious, what more could I say that wouldn't be just words. I just prayed just now and the following literally leapt into my brain at the start:
You can't do it aloneWhat does that mean in context?
I increasingly find that in this present age, much serves to try and isolate us from each other be it internet shopping, kindles (i.e. no library). Don't get me wrong, these are great things in themselves and in a sense promote community (i.e. bloggin!) but the ultimate combination can result in isolation.
Community has never been so important in this current age. We need it, we need to nurture it, value it and work at it.
My home group from church have been talking about serving our community. What are our community's needs. There was a little bit of a difference of opinion over it. I questioned whether people actually know what they need/want. We are so wrapped up in ourselves that we don't always think about it. Another teacher agreed with me. She said that some parents don't know what they need, they can't articulate it or fathom it out. Others said that our community wants to feel safe, protected, wants to feel that they can walk out without fear of attack, without worrying. That's something we cannot do alone. It takes responsibility from all of us. For us to be alert, help others, reassure them.
Community starts from God. Prayer is never a thing you do alone. It's always a duet! God is there, even if you struggle to hear his voice or think you haven't/don't hear it at all. He never answers in the way you think but he does, nonetheless. He is there to listen if only I could be patient and WAIT to hear his voice instead of wanting instant gratification like all this technology offers and expecting him to pick up and give a simple answer. He's bigger than that! I can have no concept of what he is really like other than that if he is eternal, his concept of time is a lot different to mine!! It takes trust and it takes time and it takes belief. Faith is not being given a big obvious piece of undeniable proof, it's being certain of what you believe and being certain of what you hope for without seeing it.
The church is built on fellowship. It isn't meant to be something you do on your own. You and God Alongside You and a community. Yes, the church or community you are in might not be ideal, it might be irritating, you might not want to 'mix' with the people there (Read C.S. Lewis' writings in the Screwtape letters for thoughts on this), I for instance felt highly irritated with the church warden who told me to go and sit with the choir yesterday even though I had missed practice and wanted to sit at the back (as he surely realised I thought at the time but maybe he just wanted to reassure me it was ok to go to the front!), but they are a fellowship, they are brothers and sisters. Anytime I find myself irritated with anyone (because we are human. Christians are not robots who don't experience the difficulties. We make mistakes, we can be mean, we can be unkind but we should try again and hopefully we are trying to put it right! Don't think because someone Christian was mean to you that therefore it is all nonsense) Yes, there are people that use it wrongly and that is awful. We all hear the tales of people who have done wrong and they should be held accountable but loving those around us in general life is something to work at.
Struggles aren't meant to be faced alone. They are meant to be faced with God and with a fellowship of Those around.
I cannot do it alone.
Or in this concept, more appropriately:
We cannot do it alone.
xx