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Soldiers together - Mackinaw Bridge, MI - photography by Jennifer Laura
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
Good Wednesday to you all. It has come to my attention that many of you may not have received the link for yesterday's article. Please take a moment to read it if you get the chance. Today's article is a continuation of that column. http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-20894-Detroit-Methodist-Examiner~y2009m11d3-It-is-well-with-my-soul Even though not all of you had the opportunity to read this article yet, there have already been some inspirational comments. With permission from the author, here is one of those comments: John C. - Jeremy: Extremely well timed. Currently I'm going through exactly what you've described. A devastating loss that I would not be able to deal with without knowing that GOD is in control. But as the scripture tells us...."after you have suffered for a while, the GOD of all grace will himself restore you and help you to stand strong, firm, and steadfast". Thanks for the reminder.
This heartfelt statement inspired a follow up to that article. Yesterday, we took a brief glimpse at the circumstances that brought about the writing of the hymn, "It Is Well with My Soul" by Horatio Spafford. It was in his greatest moment of grief that the inspirational words were found for this beautiful song. It seems that pain and loss are the strongest catalysts for finding God's perfect will in our lives. However, there is one more component that cannot be overlooked in these trials. That is, our need for each other. The verse above from Galatians is evidence of God's emphasis on community. The photo at the top also serves as a wonderful illustration. The soldiers in the picture were there to assist people as they walked over the bridge, but they were also there to help each other. As soldiers of Christ, we serve to help people find the bridge to salvation in the Cross of Christ. However, we also serve each other in this journey. Our need for community becomes harder and harder to fill without making a concentrated effort to see it done. Everything in our modern lives seems to be drifting toward autonomy and away from community. This can be seen in both the church and the business world. More and more businesses are cutting costs by setting up home based offices and reducing staff numbers. Also, the fasting growing church communities seem to be those in which an individual can come and go without being personally vested in the congregation. In other words, we are becoming invisible to each other. There are some terrific exceptions to this rule. The small church is still a place where many people find a way to connect with others, even finding support and friendship that had been previously foreign to them. In business, Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland is an incredible place in which the philosophy of the workplace creates community instead of destroying it. (By the way, there is a pretty good series of articles available that explains this principle! One of these is found at http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-20894-Detroit-Methodist-Examiner~y2009m10d21-The-Family-of-Wally-Bronner)
Even with shining examples of how we can find the kind of support we need, the invisible society seems to be overshadowing the world population. Because of this, the sight of large groups is even more astounding than usual. In recent times, Tea Party events have surprised everyone in the media and the Government by their amazing turnouts. There have been estimates that as many as two million people flooded to the Capital for a peaceful protest during the rally on September 12th of this year. The grass roots movements seem to produce an incredible time of unity for those who participate in them. However, maintaining community is a much more difficult proposition. Christian comedian Bone said that he took a queue from Jesus on how to live his life. He remarked that Jesus had 12 friends that he stayed with. However, one of them betrayed Jesus. Because of this, Bone said that he is always careful to only keep eleven friends at all times! (For more on this, see the TV show Bananas available on DVD.) Even though this point is humorously made, it is an important one. Most people feel lucky to have one person they can count on, let alone twelve. A good friend pointed out that it is during that hard times that you find out who your friends truly are. A great many people are shocked to see that the phone does not ring when they need it the most. As individuals, we are helpless to help each other. However, as members of a body we can truly learn to give and receive as need arises.
And so today comes about as a challenge for all of us. As Horatio Spafford's story inspired some of you to share your thoughts and personal testimonies, it is my sincere hope that this will continue throughout the week. I am asking for comments from as many of you as possible to put together an article about how you have made it through painful times or truth you have received from God because of such a time. Please fill up these comment boxes and there will be a "quotes" article written by all of you! If between yesterday's article and today's we can put together 50 good comments regarding God's support and ability to carry us through hardship by next Friday the 13th, everyone who leaves a comment will be entered into a drawing to win a prize. From those comments several will be featured in an article the next week. The point of all of this is simply that each and every one of you has something to say. All of us need the wisdom that God has given to you through His Word and Spirit. The thoughts you share could very well help someone else in their own time of need.
Horatio Spafford's personal testimony was really God's testimony. That is what I am looking for. You will find those times when something that can only come from the Lord makes its way into your life to be a light and hope to others. We all know how painful this life can be. What many people still do not know is that there is a peace that passes all understanding in those very times. It only comes from God the Father, and is available to all who would call on Jesus as their Savior. It is our personal times with God that we bring to the community of Christ. We may only each bring a glass of water, but when it is all put together it becomes a flood of blessings for everyone to share.
God bless each and every one of you as you consider prayerfully what you may share. If you leave a comment but want to remain anonymous, that is absolutely fine. I look forward to sharing in the wisdom that God has shared with each of you. Tomorrow we are going to talk a bit about the upcoming drive for Grace Centers of Hope this Saturday, November 7th. Please tune in again tomorrow as we continue to share in this great gift called life. Until then, God bless and keep reading.
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