One Mind

Reading through the book of Ephesians, one quickly realizes that Paul has an inspired concern for the Ephesus church; namely that the Church reflect the unity that is proper for the body of Christ. After all, it is rare that the parts of an individual's body act out of concert with one another and when they do, it's time to call in Dr. House and his famed diagnostic team. Individually, our bodies were designed so that our feet, our hands, our heart and our mind would all be working toward a common goal, whether that goal is to digest food, or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

In the case of the body of Christ, the same thing is true and in Ephesians 2:6-7, Paul demonstrates what this goal should be.  All believers should be actively demonstrating the abundance of Christ's grace.  In saving us, God desires to use our lives to draw others to Him.  Whether we are interacting with family or interacting with strangers, whether we are alone or in a crowd, our lives should be a constant reflection of God's grace to us, because we are constantly reflecting on His kindness expressed in grace. Demonstrating the abundance of His riches towards us is the singular goal of our lives, not to proclaim our own worth, but in acknowledging our unworthiness, to proclaim the magnitude of His kindness. In recognizing that our lives our worthless apart from His grace, we display the costly and incomparable sacrifice of His life.  God choose us to be a demonstration of His kindness and grace not by merely being kind and gracious to others, but by telling of His kindness and grace to us.

May we keep this focus in mind. And may this be the common focus of all Christians' lives.




How do you keep your focus on reflecting Christ? 

Death Sentence

The word of God has been so thoroughly tamed that as peddled in the churches there is nothing scandalous, strenuous, or revolutionary about it. It is not even difficult. It is easier to join a Christian church than it is to join Rotary. Whereas in some eras of its history, Christianity was threatened by persecution, in our own American culture, it faces an opposite threat which lies in its very success. Christianity is dying, not of persecution or neglect, but of respectability. W. Waldo Beach from The Christian Life, Richmond, Va.: CLC Press, 1966, p. 11


Shock jock radio hosts achieved their title and their notoriety because of their ability to say things that stretched people beyond their comfort zone. Often times these diatribes pushed not only people's boundaries but the standards of good taste. However, despite the outrage that they often precipitated, the hosts' fame and wallets grew. It became so that what they said was evaluated not by the content, but by the number of listeners that it reached, and because the best way to keep people talking is to say something shocking, good manners, facts, and society's standards were often left by the wayside.

In the quotation above, Beach suggests the church faces the opposite problem. Written almost a half century ago, the author posits that the Church, in an attempt to not offend anybody, accepts everything. Read that sentence again. It does not say that the folly of the church is to accept everyone, for we know that God wishes all to come to a saving knowledge of Him (See I Timothy 2:3-4). However, loving a person and loving their behavior are two very different things. In many cases, perhaps in an effort to demonstrate love, the church has ceased to preach the hard and difficult aspects of being a Christian. And because of this, the Church ceases to be the representative of Christ in the world, and instead, because a do-good organization bound by the standards of Christianity but void of its power. For just like the Word is the light onto our individual paths, so it is for the Church. Without it, the church no longer serves its purpose.

Much has been said about the need for individuals to find and live their purpose. This idea is intertwined with the often individualistic way of American life.  The idea is that if a person does not do that which they were created for, their life will be meaningless and vapid. It is the same for the Church. If we are willing to put to death all that God called the Church should be, both the provider of love as well as the proclaimer of truth, both the dispenser of discipline as well as the refuge for the recluse, then we should not be surprised when the Church too experiences a slow and stifled death.

Disappointed with Disciples

Ask a hundred people who grew up going to church why they stopped attending, and you might hear a wide variety of answers. However, throughout your inquiry, you will in all likelihood consistently find one theme – at some level or another, they abandoned their institution of organized religion because of some type of disappointment with others who claimed the same religious beliefs. Usually this accusation falls under the headline of “hypocrisy” and the outcomes of this charge can often be severe. After al, if you can’t trust those who you regularly attend church with to be consistent in living out their beliefs, whom can you trust?

The answer of course, is Christ, for He is the One that our trust should be in to begin with. As much as the Bible calls us to love and to serve other believers, it is also clear that we are only to rely on and trust them in as much as they follow Christ (See I Corinthians 11:1.) When they don’t, we should pray for them and encourage them but our commitment to our Savior should not be vanquished. Followers are not the Master and when we treat them as one in the same, it is a guarantee that disappointment will soon follow.

It’s amazing how quickly we make this distinction in other parts of our lives. I, for instance, am a Dallas Cowboys fan (much to the chagrin of many in my family.)  Whether it's Romo inexplicable botching the hold for a field goal kick, or a player being arrested…again, my affection for the team isn’t contingent on how one individual member of the team performs. In the same, but much holier, way, neither should my dedication to Christ. My faith is in Him alone, and that’s a faith that will never disappoint.

The Work We're To Do

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. - Ephesians 4:16


I don't have the best body. No, I'm not talking about the fact that Elle McPherson and I have little in common. Although that's true (at least as far as surface appearances would foretell), my body just has a habit of not being able to do all the things I want it too. It started when I was younger, the weak ankles that I inherited from my grandmother would result in Ace bandage wraps more often than I care to admit. And although running miles upon miles has caused my ankles to strengthen, my muscles, ligaments, and joints still have their challenges. A large part of this is because I internalize things and my body pays the cost. It's not the worse thing in the world; after all when my body needs a break it means the rest of me slows down too, but given the choice, I'd rather everything function at a little more optimal level.

It is noteworthy perhaps, that there are parts of my body that function extremely well. My heart for instance is in tip-top shape (again - miles of running.) But my heart, although a muscle can't do the job that my shoulder muscle is assigned when my shoulder muscle decides to spasm. They are of the same nature, yet have very different roles, and unfortunately, I can't supplant the job of one for the task of another.

Its the same way in the Church. The job that one person has been given can't be done by someone else. We each must complete the task, whether seemingly menial or significant that God calls us to do recognizing that each task, when a godly task, is significant because of its heavenly origin. We sometimes want to argue with our role - we fear God has given us too much or too little, or He's asked us to do something for which we are ill-equipped. None of this matters. Our job is to complete our function because without it, the rest of the Body can't complete theirs.

And when we do that we may feel that God has called us to do too much and feel that we will not have the wherewithal to accomplish His mission. The words of another may comfort us. "I'd rather burn out than rust out" said James Young Ferguson. And he's right. Burning out is better because our job is to be a light and if we're burning, we're definitely shinning. The other thing to remember is this - things only gather rust when they aren't being used. If we're being used, rust isn't a concern, for our constant service will prevent the stagnation that allows rust to flourish.

God's called us to do things for His kingdom. Are we?

Be O.K.

It's amazing how quickly I become spoiled. When that which I think is exceptional becomes part of my every day occurrence, I get to expect it. This is true in relationships, in employees, and in my church. I am very blessed to go to a church that not only challenges me and excites me on a regular basis, but where I have a community of people who support me and love me even when there's not a lot to love. There was a time in my life where these things were ideals rather than practices. Now that they are just a part of my week, its easy to take them for granted.

The shocking reminder of how blessed I am occurs any time I visit another group of people gathering to worship God. Sometimes the reminder comes from joining a similar group and recognizing how blessed they feel to be a part of the community, and it reminds me that I'm so blessed to get to experience the same thing. Other times the reminder comes from visiting a group that's noteworthy for their contrast. In these circumstances, I'm astonished by how a group of seeming strangers get together for the practice of church without ever experiencing community.

While experiencing the latter recently, I was struck by the dearth of substance to the message from the pulpit. Its not that the message was bad, it wasn't. But if I had to summarize what the message was saying it was basically "be o.k". Compare this to the 5-week series on eternal life that I just heard, and its hard not realize the disparity. Sure - being ok is a good ideal - and letting go of things that prevent us from experiencing God's majesty is also good. But just being o.k. is settling for the most basic premise of the Christian life. Additionally being o.k. is great - if by that you mean letting go of sin and that which prompts sinful behavior. However, in this life, there's always going to be pain, trials, and circumstances that challenge us. Being confidence in God's faithfulness goes a long way in navigating these circumstances with an eternal perspective, but its never going to make the injustices of this world seem right.

There is a lot of things that are comforting about being a Christian. However, being a Christian is never settling for comfort and becoming complacent. Just being o.k. is doing a disservice to the Gospel, to ourselves, to the Cross and to our Savior. It mocks His sacrifice and causes us to miss the joy and strength that comes from digging deeper and investing more.

Beautiful Body

Recently I've been struck by the privilege that it is to be part of the body of Christ. This isn't a new revelation as anyone who is a Christian realizes that being called by Christ and having a relationship with Him, while not easy, is always worth it. However, while a relationship with God and His glorification on Earth are the primary purposes of being a Christian, there is another comfort that is less-often acknowledged. When we choose to follow Christ and to take up our cross and serve Him, we become a part of a community of people who share a common purpose. Just like people join organizations or sports teams for the thrill of joining together to achieve something, being a Christian means that you immediately join a team that has already accomplished much for His kingdom. Just like a sports team, it means you all the sudden have a group of people who are there to cheer you on, and to wish you the best in the accomplishment of your common endeavor. Additionally, you know that there are other people working alongside you in pursuit of the same goal. This team, this family that you are now a part of has an advantage that Earthly groups don't. Followers of Christ know that despite distance and lapse of time, they will always see each other again. Even when they don't know how the other members are doing, they know that other work is being undertaken to provide praise to our Father. It's what enables us to immediately get real with one another; to relate without pretense, to pray with out specifics, and to love without obligation. Our common position as servants of Christ bind us together like nothing else can.

And this is pure beauty.

"Our Wedding"

I mentioned in an earlier post that recently there was a wedding in the community. The wedding was for one of David’s nephews who has become his adopted son. Over a thousand people were in attendance and when I arrived the community was still recovering.
An interesting thing about Kenyan weddings is that it is not the couple’s wedding. The event, the celebration, is seen as a community occasion. The couple actually makes very few decisions about the day. In fact, they don’t even really decide who to invite. Word-of-mouth combined with a few cards that are mailed, spread the news. There are no RSVP’s and no indication of who may be coming – not just for the day; but the groom’s family may also be expected to hosts unannounced visitors both before and after the event.
The reason it is viewed as a community celebration is because every other thing in the person’s life has been viewed as a community event. If someone moves into a new house, the community brings everything that the person needs – food, dishes, and other household goods. When the person gets married, the community provides what they need. As David shared – it serves as a reminder that someone else picked the flowers which are adorning you. Someone else sewed the material to create the dress. Others were responsible for the food preparation and service. Each member of the community provides their contribution; and the community honors that. Within twenty-four hours of the wedding, all the dishes that the community had gathered from various homes were washed and returned to their rightful owner. The idea of community celebrations may seem foreign, but at least here in Kipkarren, it’s definitely efficient.
As I learned about the wedding traditions of this village, I was reminded of the passage in Acts 2. Truly everyone here shares and they have no possessions that are their own. Everything that a person has is available for the benefit of the community.

PS - I hope to post pictures soon.

The Attraction of Truth

In a recent Bible study a discussion emerged about whether Christ's message was offensive. Most of us that were part of the discussion concluded that it was, and that it should be. After all, any time someone is saying that you should abandon your prerogatives in order to follow His, its bound to cause some discord.

In the course of the discussion the observation was made that "most people don't like the truth." As the talk continued on we refined this to say "most people don't like absolutes" because the point was made that most people do like the truth, however very few nowadays believe that you can ascertain it. I believe that this assessment is accurate, although if those who argue against truth's identity asked me to prove it, I probably couldn't.

However, I think truth has an inherent attractiveness. If for no other reason than our pride, we want to believe that we have an accurate assessment of our lives; that we know how to navigate the world. Even those who aren't sure that the truth can be found order their lives around some sort of belief - even if that belief is that truth is unobtainable. We want to believe that we can make sense of the craziness that is this life.

Maybe if we were a little bit more consistent in living according to the Truth we claim to believe, people would think a little more highly of the Church and would be a little more attracted to it too.

I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman

A few years ago Brittney Spears had a song titled "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman" in which she extolled her transition from childhood into . . . well, nothing. If ever there was an anthem for the social phenomenon called adultolescence this was it. This is a construct signaling those years that are often spent "trying to find oneself." Its a topic that acclaimed author, John Piper, talks about here.

Its an interesting phenomenon, adultolescence, the idea that there is a transition between childhood and adultness that extends beyond the teenager years. I've heard of it before - and have seen its evidence in many people who I come into contact with. Individuals who haven't quite figured out what they want to be when they grow, even though for all intents and purposes they are grown. In many ways, I think its understandable = people are living longer so it makes sense that they have additional years to "play" before they "settle down." In addition, one thing that the article does not address, I think to its detriment, is the economic factors that make "settling down" a little less achievable early in adult life. I think its well and good that the Church encourage godly marriage "even if they are in school" - I think its extremely unwise if this leads to a lot of Christian marriages crippled by debt. I also take exception to the fact that somehow being single or "being flexible in a career" is evidenced of a lack of maturity. I don't think either is the case. Paul wasn't married and Paul had a pretty transient career - are we to conclude that he was immature?

However, I think my biggest contention with the roles of the church that Piper articulates is "6. The church will provide a stability and steadiness in life for young adults who find a significant identity there." I think this is an admirable and necessary goal but I haven't found a church yet who knows how to do it. Either they are "emerging" and often long on experience and short on doctrine, or they are traditional - and the very fabric of the church organization is built around families. Which isn't to say I don't understand the strategic value of building the organization around families - they are still the most stable social force we have. But how is a church going to integrate the young, single adults into their fellowship without making them a peripheral part of the congregation. If the only stability the church has to offer is the pathway to marriage - that's not saying a lot. People go to bars for that exact same purpose.

I'm intentionally being controversial for effect. I think the article makes a number of good points but I wish it was a little bit more directive and not as theoretical. And I wish a few church leaders would read it.

Mystery of the Ages

There are some people in this world who are an open book. Despite my affinity for reading, I am not one of them. As old roommate (whom I miss dearly) once quipped, I am "full of mystery and intrigue." Being self-revelatory isn't my strong suit; being vulnerable even less so. And yet I never considered myself someone who was close-mouthed until I had it pointed out to me repeatedly about a year ago. I think its because I'm so commonplace and uninteresting that I assume people feel like they know me. As with so many things in life, I was wrong.

Recently, I heard the Church called the "mystery of the ages." To be fair, I merely jotted down the reference and now can not remember the context it was uttered in. So it could be that its from a famous quotation and I'm hopelessly pillaging another's idea. (A good researcher would Google that - but I'm not at work, so its not my responsibility.:-) ) I thought the description was apt. As someone who's been questioned regarding their commitment to church, I find it hard to explain why I am so regularly participate in corporate worship. It's especially hard to convey to people who are familiar with attending church but have never been a part of the Church. All they see is the social benefits and the warm fuzzies that they receive, which like all good feelings are bound to dissipate when strife enters in. For me, the warm fuzzies and the social benefits are secondary. There is something mysterious that happens when hearts turned to God jointly proclaim Who He is. There is something unexplainable about the fact that the Church has lasted despite its missteps and misdeeds. The wonder of the Church can't be captured in a thirty-minute "how to" on life (what many sermons have succumbed to in recent years) because the mystery of the Church with a capital C isn't contained in any four walls, its found in the hearts that are inexplicably joined as members of Christ's family and in the majesty of coming before the throne as one.

I may never be able to adequately explain it. But, as with so many things that are beautiful, I don't need to in order to appreciate it.

Cherish is the Word

Growing up, I always loved the song that went "Cherish is the word I use to describe, all the feeling that I have hiding here inside." Google tells me that this song is aptly titled "Cherish", but I have a hard time thinking of it without the rest of the words in the opening line of the chorus.

The reason that I liked the song so much is that "cherish" seemed to more adequately describe that which we sought in a healthy relationship. The more traditional word, love, had been strewn around too much to carry any significant meeting. The word love had supplanted "lust", "infatuation" and "obsessiveness" , and "really, really like" one too many times for me. Cherish seemed more appropriate. In my mind it conjured up images of deference, of respect, and of value. We use the word cherish to describe that which we honor and will not let go of. More so than "love" which had come to mean anything from a passing fancy to a familial connection, it described romance.

Recently though, I've found another application for the word. "Coincidentally" the last two week's we've been learning what it means to love one another in church. I write coincidentally because the dual lessons came about as a result of a guest speaker, not a planned program. However, God must have thought our church needed a refresher, because the two lessons were almost identical in their motif: as part of God's family we are called love one another - selflessly, humbly and with purpose. And while I agree that is true, I think cherish may also more accurately describe how we are to be to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Because modern-day usage has destroyed the meaning of the word love, it can conjure up images of tolerance for family members rather than active pursuit of their good. And while tolerance is admirable, I think God had in mind the latter rather than the former. We are to cherish those who are part of His family. To honor, esteem them, and work for their edification. We are to value them if for no other reason that our Father has fit to call them His kids. Cherishing them is how we demonstrate our commitment to Him.

Love is a good word. I use it on a regular basis. But when it comes to my co-laborers in Christ, I think my aim will be to cherish.

Avoiding Loneliness

In "Lucky You", Drew Barrymore plays a girl new to the Vegas scene who falls for the bad-boy, compulsive gambler. The movie wasn't great, and Drew Barrymore's character was one of the least believable, but despite these flaws, she did have one noteworthy saying. As the two lovebirds stare at the city's light, she utters "I think everyone is just trying to avoid being lonely." The setting was contrived, but the words full of veracity. Most people are just trying to avoid being lonely. Its why people obsess over divergent things - drugs, relationships, church, cars, etc. As Tim McGraw sings "We're all looking for meaning in our lives, we follow the road that leads us to drugs or Jesus."

What I think has been lost is that there is a difference between being lonely and being alone. Loneliness concerns having an unfulfilled need - a sense of abandonment and lack of validation. Being alone simply means having solitude. For many, the fact that they are alone brings on feeling of loneliness because they consider their isolation as a form of destitution. But it doesn't necessarily have to be this way. Being alone can simply mean that there is no one else around. Maybe not a preferable situation, but an instructive one. Because in our singularity we can learn a lot about who we are and who we are not. We come to discover what life is like without our masks and we feel those things that we are scared to acknowledge in community. Being alone shouldn't be avoided, it should be celebrated because its when we are most vulnerable with ourselves, and with God.

I know why people try to avoid being lonely. God made us for community and when we are deprived of that our soul suffers. But being in community doesn't mean never being alone. It means having people to be alone with. And its trusting that a time of solitude will make the community all the sweeter.

Double Pierced

When you've spent as much time in church as I have, you learn that there are just as much politics in there as there is any other place where large groups of people get together and osetensibly work towards the same goal. It may take on a more spiritual tone (and then again, it might know), but the maneuvering and the special interest groups are the same.

Of course, a lot of political struggles center around doctrine - what a group is going to profess as the right course of action - and it is no different in the church. The most prominent struggle is centuries old - the emphasis on law versus grace. Even the Early Church fought this battle as evident in Acts 15. Some groups wanted to emphasize the importance of obeying the Hebraic Law while others wanted to focus on the new covenant. The same holds true today. Some churches focus on teaching adherents to follow the commandments of Christ, while others focus on demonstrating His limitless grace. Perhaps the strangest thing about this fight, is that both sides are right. Both God's law and His good news are needed. As Charles Spurgeon once wrote, "the law is for the self-righteous, to humble their pride: the gospel is for the lost, to remove their despair." Neither the gospel nor the law can accomplish the goal of the others. With only the Law, we would despair which is why the Gospel is needed. With only the Gospel, we may boast of our high place; the Law is needed to show our depravity. Every believer needs both to pierce the depths of their inmost being.

Political struggles will probably always be a part of the church on Earth. But we can rejoice, their place in heaven is nonexistent.

The Self-Help Church

The Self-Help Church
Current mood: peaceful

"The Church is not a tribe for the improvement in holiness
of people who think it would be pleasant to be holy, a means
to the integration of character for those who cannot bear
their conflicts. It is a statement of the divine intention for
humanity." - Harold Loukes

I tell people that I am full of mystery and intrique. It started as a joke - probably a shameless attempt to get on the quote board - but like all really funny things, there's some truth to it. As I've often expressed, I'm not very good at expressing myself. People don't know what to make of me. I'm a girl that looks like she could be in high school who uses words like "stymied" in everyday conversation. I've (almost) completed my doctorate, but I couldn't figure out my friend's CD player. I talk when I'm tired and am silent when fully awake. I'll argue on behalf of someone else, but hate conflict when it pertains to m own defense. As the great philospphers of Green Day once sang, I'm a walking contradiction.

Once, I even had a friend remark to me that the intricacies of my (probably somewhat warped) personna ruined a long-held theory about Christians. They had been of the opinion that there were two types of believers - those who are raised in the Church and believe because that's what they've always known. These Christians have never "worked out their salvation" as Paul directs because they've never really thought about it. Or there were those who turned to Christianity to improve some aspect of their lives. The second type view the Church as a means of restoration and come from a variety of different contexts, but the defining feature is that the Church is a means of self-improvement. I didn't (and hopefully still don't!) fit into either of these categories.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of truth to what my friend observed. There are people in the Church who appear to be members of the community solely for the good that they think will be brought to their lives as a result. They see the Church as good group therapy, a way for them, or their kids, to be shown how to conduct their lives in a morally upstanding manner. For them, the Church is little more than a spiritual psychoanalytical group session - a good way to get their life back on track.

But this was never God's intention for the Church. As my pastor taught in a recent sermon, the Church was intended to be the foundation upon which God's plan was brought about on Earth. It is His means for bringing Him glory - and for drawing others to salvation. The Church is Christ's ambassadors, sent to do His work. As Harold Loukes comments above, the Church "is a statement of God's divine intention for humanity".

It's a shame that in many circles the Church has become less than that. It's an even greater shame that there are Christians who are content with this downgrade. We should want more. I know God does.


As for the second type of Christians, those who have been brought up in the Church and don't ever reason out their faith, we'll leave that discussion for another day. :)

The Disillusionment of Activity

Maybe it was because I had been gone a few weeks. Maybe time dragged because I had forgotten all that needed to be said. Maybe it was an anomaly - the result of a busy time of year. Or maybe the announcements at church really had taken up a huge amount of time.

It seems like a strange thing to notice, yet it couldn't help but catch my attention. As I sat in church this week and heard announcement after announcement, I was convinced they had exponentially grown in length. There were at least two ministries that were brand new, countless invitations to go away for the weekend or spend another night out (it's a family church, but I'm not sure how people actually spend time with their family), not to mention the revolving slide show of announcements that usually greets us as we walked in (I was late this week so maybe we did without - but I doubt it). And the church is just barely a year old!

Now, I love my church. I have a lot of good friends there and I think we have one of the best pastor teachers that exist. And I get the benefit of all the activities. You want to make sure that everyone has a place to be "plugged in" (And if not, we now have a new ministry to accomplish that!). And you want to make sure that people are both serving and being served. But I have to wonder if its all really necessary Is all the activity contributing something of value and of worth?

Some of the best times of Christian fellowship that I have had happen far away from the church doors. They weren't the result of planned activities or structured ministries. They came as a result of people who shared a common faith seeking to live life together - To support one another, to love one another, to encourage each other on in our journeys. Life was meant to be lived - not to be a ceaseless barrage of events. I fear sometimes that the modern church spends so much time doing that we've forgotten how to be.

The sad thing about the current structure is that you rarely get the benefits of the church body. Everything is so fragmented - there's one class for one stage of life, another class for the other. You don't really get to experience the beauty of diversity because you self-select into groups of people with whom you are similar. And that's o.k. But is it helping us live life of significance?

As much as I can remember from Scripture, Jesus never commanded us to do anything just for the sake of doing. In a twist of irony, it was Mary, the sister who rested at Jesus feet who received the commendation, not Martha who in the modern church would be responsible for the hospitality ministry. And even Jesus Himself often went alone to a quiet place to pray, a privilege we rarely afford to our servant leaders. Jesus' ministry wasn't primarily about doing - although He did a lot. It was primarily about investing in 12 men and teaching them how they should be.

I fear that today the activities are a result of uncertainty. We don't know the right thing to do, so we just do something. We've lost our way on what it means to live as the Christian church. But doing something isn't the same as doing something significant, and eventually the disillusionment of activity catches up with us all.

Indepedence Day

Ask any of my friends (and probably most acquaintances) to describe me, and you'll most likely hear that I'm independent. And although I've disagreed with my friends descriptions of me (See "A Blog on Ambition"), in this instance, I concur. I've basically lived by myself since I was 20 and I am perfectly content doing things all by my lonesome if it's something I want to do. The exception would be surfing - doing that independently just seems dangerous (Hint, hint - if someone is up for teaching me, I'm game). Maybe it;s being raised in a military family or maybe it's just my nature, but for whatever reason, striking out on my own rarely daunts me. My independence has been a source of honor for me as I attempt to eschew the need for anyone or anything.

For awhile now I've thought that there was a spiritual side to this too. After all, I figured my independence was a sign of trusting God. And in a way it probably was, but not to the degree that I attributed to it. My attitude was "As long as I have God, I don't need anything else". And while that's true, I think too often it led to the absurd posturing that "God and I had everything under control". The truth was we didn't have anything under control. He did. My independence had little to do with that fact. Relying on it was a matter of pride -not trust - and too often it caused me to miss out in the blessings of community. I've realized that I wasn't made to do things on my own and too often, I've missed the joys that come from knowing and being known.

In his book, In the Name of Jesus, Henri Nouwen relates that Jesus always sent out His disciples together - never alone. Whether during Christ's earthly ministry when He sent out the seventy, or later when Paul and Timothy (among others) brought His message to Gentile communities, Christ's disciples went in pairs. Being together enabled communal prayer, mutual encouragement, and shared burdens. Through their partnership, the disciples were able to better experience Christ's expressions of love.

Nouwen argues that this practice should still be the case today. In fact, he extends this argument to demonstrate that it is only in dependent communities that we can fully experience one of the greatest joys in the Christian life - forgiveness and reconciliation. Without community, our struggles are our own and the joy of restoration is unshared. Through relationships with others, Christ's grace is more fully manifest in our lives as we see His love expressed through them. Whether this is through the relationship of a spouse, family member or fellow Christian sojourner, embarking on the journey together provides assuredness that we are following the right path. This assuredness is only one of the blessings of community, but were it the only, it would surely be worth sacrificing our independence.

Postscript - In recent weeks, I've had the opportunity to meet several young men (and one young women) serving in the armed forces. Despite a proud family history of military service, meeting these soldiers has brought me renewed appreciation for the sacrifices they are making. To them - and all members of the armed services here and abroad - thank you for your willingness to protect our freedoms, even at great personal costs.