We can do better
It's been an interesting week around here.
A big headline on social media, at least on my feed, is from a company on the other side of the State, that has started a hugging business. For 80 bucks an hour, you can have someone drop by and give you a hug, or snuggle. It's not the first of its kind.
Two days ago, my friend's brother committed suicide. He was amazing! I have yet to read anything but honorable, beautiful tributes about this man and the love and service he gave continually, always. He never complained. He was a 'first responder' when it came to people in need. There was no indication that he was suffering. He's just gone and he left behind family, friends, and people who admired him and worked with him and for him.
The question that runs through my mind, over and over is why? Why does this keep happening? Why do we have to start businesses and pay people to give us attention and love? The world is smaller than it's ever been and we have a million little ways to connect with each other, yet the world is so lonely and incredibly, painfully alone.
A few months ago, almost 4 I think. I was caught in the middle of a boundary change for my church. The church grows fast around here, and congregations become too big so they shuffle boundaries around and in less than a minute, you have a whole new set of church 'friends'. I was not happy with this change. In fact, I had to leave the building in tears. What I would have rather done was quietly slip away under the bench and resurface...never.
The thought of having to start all over with new people who don't know or understand or even care about our circumstances felt more than overwhelming. It was hard enough, in a place where everybody knew my name, to not feel alone and isolated. Despite my insecurities I jumped in to my new surroundings. I served my little heart out from the first day. I volunteered in primary classes, drove people to their doctor appointments, took meals in...and still, it's hard. There is only one other feeling worse than loneliness, it's feeling lonely while surrounded by people. I still show up every Sunday, sit there, share a few niceties and leave the same way I arrived. And old friends I run into say, "Well, aren't there nice people there?" It's not about nice people. Yes. Everyone is nice. Everyone is really nice, awesome, super, sweet, great, perfectly, perfect, God fearing people.
So, then what is it? I'm still trying to figure that out but I know it is more than just being nice.
I think we are confused. I think we assume we are here to become something. Get a great job, make good grades, have it all and keep it all together and along the way, of course, check in with people every now and again, say hi as you pass along your way, then by golly, "Well Done."!
We need to be better at taking care of one another. We are failing in big ways. We are here to watch over one another, to walk each other home.
The Bible is full of patterns for how we should take care of one another. Christ set a beautiful example with every interaction he had. He acknowledged each person; their faith and effort. He multiplied their goodness and always shared a higher perspective of love. He offered hope in place of despair. He changed perspectives and healed their blindness. I love all these reminders but I love the passage in John 13:1-5, the last supper. In the final moments, before Gethsemane and Calvary, he leaves us a legacy and a lesson of how to minister to one another. Did we miss this?
John 13:1-5
1 Now before the feast of the apassover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he blovedthem unto the end.
He knew. Christ knew his purpose in this life. He knew the people he served and those who served with him. He was a friend to everyone. He knew them. He knew their struggles and shortcomings and he knew that he was here to save each of them...each of us. We too, are here to save each other but in order to do that...we need to know one another. It's not enough to give a thumbs up. It's not enough to say Hi as you pass someone in your busy day.
He loved. He loved everyone. He loved them with a Heavenly and eternal perspective. You can't love someone you really don't know.
He rose. His whole life was spent rising to the occasion to serve. He never sat and watched others do. He rose, time after time. Do we rise to help or do we sigh because we are too tired, too busy, too poor, too rich, too of something to rise?
He laid aside. Imagine, if at any time in Christ's ministry, he said, "I'd love to fix your issue of blood but can't you see I'm busy with other things? I'm on my way to take care of important business." He stopped and acknowledged the woman. It didn't take all day, it didn't take more than a moment to see her faith, her hope, her challenges. Nothing is more important than the life of those around us.
He was girded. Christ was prepared to work, to take action. He washed the feet of his disciples and was prepared for the task. Ministering to one another takes action, not a wave across the grocery store.
Imagine what could be accomplished if we valued one another more and if we did it before their untimely death? There are very few things more important or sacred than human life and all of the complexities that come with that. Surely, we can try a little harder to be there for each other.
A big headline on social media, at least on my feed, is from a company on the other side of the State, that has started a hugging business. For 80 bucks an hour, you can have someone drop by and give you a hug, or snuggle. It's not the first of its kind.
Two days ago, my friend's brother committed suicide. He was amazing! I have yet to read anything but honorable, beautiful tributes about this man and the love and service he gave continually, always. He never complained. He was a 'first responder' when it came to people in need. There was no indication that he was suffering. He's just gone and he left behind family, friends, and people who admired him and worked with him and for him.
The question that runs through my mind, over and over is why? Why does this keep happening? Why do we have to start businesses and pay people to give us attention and love? The world is smaller than it's ever been and we have a million little ways to connect with each other, yet the world is so lonely and incredibly, painfully alone.
A few months ago, almost 4 I think. I was caught in the middle of a boundary change for my church. The church grows fast around here, and congregations become too big so they shuffle boundaries around and in less than a minute, you have a whole new set of church 'friends'. I was not happy with this change. In fact, I had to leave the building in tears. What I would have rather done was quietly slip away under the bench and resurface...never.
The thought of having to start all over with new people who don't know or understand or even care about our circumstances felt more than overwhelming. It was hard enough, in a place where everybody knew my name, to not feel alone and isolated. Despite my insecurities I jumped in to my new surroundings. I served my little heart out from the first day. I volunteered in primary classes, drove people to their doctor appointments, took meals in...and still, it's hard. There is only one other feeling worse than loneliness, it's feeling lonely while surrounded by people. I still show up every Sunday, sit there, share a few niceties and leave the same way I arrived. And old friends I run into say, "Well, aren't there nice people there?" It's not about nice people. Yes. Everyone is nice. Everyone is really nice, awesome, super, sweet, great, perfectly, perfect, God fearing people.
So, then what is it? I'm still trying to figure that out but I know it is more than just being nice.
I think we are confused. I think we assume we are here to become something. Get a great job, make good grades, have it all and keep it all together and along the way, of course, check in with people every now and again, say hi as you pass along your way, then by golly, "Well Done."!
We need to be better at taking care of one another. We are failing in big ways. We are here to watch over one another, to walk each other home.
The Bible is full of patterns for how we should take care of one another. Christ set a beautiful example with every interaction he had. He acknowledged each person; their faith and effort. He multiplied their goodness and always shared a higher perspective of love. He offered hope in place of despair. He changed perspectives and healed their blindness. I love all these reminders but I love the passage in John 13:1-5, the last supper. In the final moments, before Gethsemane and Calvary, he leaves us a legacy and a lesson of how to minister to one another. Did we miss this?
John 13:1-5
1 Now before the feast of the apassover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he blovedthem unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the aheart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
3 Jesus aknowing that the Father had given all bthings into his hands, and that he was ccome from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to awash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
He knew. Christ knew his purpose in this life. He knew the people he served and those who served with him. He was a friend to everyone. He knew them. He knew their struggles and shortcomings and he knew that he was here to save each of them...each of us. We too, are here to save each other but in order to do that...we need to know one another. It's not enough to give a thumbs up. It's not enough to say Hi as you pass someone in your busy day.
He loved. He loved everyone. He loved them with a Heavenly and eternal perspective. You can't love someone you really don't know.
He rose. His whole life was spent rising to the occasion to serve. He never sat and watched others do. He rose, time after time. Do we rise to help or do we sigh because we are too tired, too busy, too poor, too rich, too of something to rise?
He laid aside. Imagine, if at any time in Christ's ministry, he said, "I'd love to fix your issue of blood but can't you see I'm busy with other things? I'm on my way to take care of important business." He stopped and acknowledged the woman. It didn't take all day, it didn't take more than a moment to see her faith, her hope, her challenges. Nothing is more important than the life of those around us.
He was girded. Christ was prepared to work, to take action. He washed the feet of his disciples and was prepared for the task. Ministering to one another takes action, not a wave across the grocery store.
Imagine what could be accomplished if we valued one another more and if we did it before their untimely death? There are very few things more important or sacred than human life and all of the complexities that come with that. Surely, we can try a little harder to be there for each other.
I have noticed that, often, the ones doing a lot of serving are trying to survive their internal struggles and so they seek to lose themselves in service. This isn't a bad thing, but when we don't take the time to know people, we can miss the moments where the Spirit can tell us there is more than meets the eye with someone.
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