Circle of Hope

I’ve been trying to work through living intentionally in relationship
and community with other people and with God. The idea that we are all
different parts of a body with various gifts and talents made whole in
Christ, is beautiful, humbling, and it also takes the pressure off of
feeling like I alone have to do and be everything.

Yet something about this can cause a flight reflex, especially as the
introvert and very independent person that I am. There is the desire,
at times, to not have to interact. There can also be this resistance
to taking ownership of the whole body and to being just one small part
of a larger picture. The dangers of not feeling valuable or of seeing
other parts of the body as not so valuable are there as well.

But a real body needs all of it’s parts to be whole and healthy. And
the perspective that I want to have is one that embraces being part of
one body. I’ve been feeling encouraged and comforted by the fact that
the parts of the body do not function at all on their own, but that
together, with each other’s support, there is life!

One image that’s been in my mind for the last couple of days is of a
bird’s nest being built out of broken twigs, on a branch of the tree
that the twigs came from. I imagine the branch saying to the twigs,
“Welcome back. You belong to me. We are still one tree.”

And I’ve also been picturing a boat setting sail in search of
something more or running from something that’s hard to face. Upon
departure, I can just hear the water saying “Remember, wherever you
go, you’ll need me to keep afloat.”

It reminds me of how the prodigal son did not forfeit being his
father’s son by leaving his family and squandering their money, then
returning in hopes of being given a servant’s job. Instead, his father
let him go and make his own decisions, then welcomed him back with
open arms as if saying, “No matter what you do, I love you, and your
place in this family will not change.”

The concept of being one part out of many in one body can be
overwhelming sometimes. But I imagine God, the father, allowing me,
the child, the room to make mistakes, and all the time accepting me
and welcoming me back with open arms, saying, “No matter what - if
you are broken, or if you try to run away, I love you and I will offer
you support. You are a part of the body of Christ, and that will not
change.”

Can we, in our family/neighborhood/work/friend/cell/church/house
communities offer this same spirit of belonging, support, love, and
grace to each other?

Let’s try.