I am a "belonger".I'm not a follower.
And I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'm always a great leader. I'd like to think I am a great leader, but my reality realizes that I'm really just a bossy leader.
But my soul thrives on being a belonger.
(Firefox says that's a made-up word. I say it's my blog.)
Don't get me wrong - I don't always want to be surrounded by people. I also like to be alone and in solitude. But I like to know there is an organized group on the other end waiting for me - even if it is just a group I threw together at the last minute to go see Hunger Games.
I love to belong to things. I always have. A good group gives me purpose and a place - something to do. I crave things like bookclubs and women's groups. You don't even have to have anything interesting to discuss. If you offer an invitation with the occasional coffee and cake, I will be there.
Maybe that's why I love church. There are times when I wish I was one of those snazzy people that intellectually hates organized religion, but I'm not. I sometimes really dislike the people making decisions for me, and the decisions they make. I often disagree with them. But I still crave a church body to love.
Churches aren't perfect and I know that. But I am forgiving. I have been so fortunate to not know first hand of terrible church scandals and acts of prejudice that have driven so many people from their congregations. The church as an institution is flawed, but only because it is created by humans. We are flawed. There are things that my church has to decide are right or wrong, because humans within that church demand clarity. These things I don't always agree with. There are people I don't always agree with. And I could never belong to a church that didn't hold love as its trump card over everything, including judgement.
But I do love the types of things that make me want to look for a church and attend every Sunday. I love when people keep track of where you are in the adoption process and act even more excited than you about the little baby you're bringing home. I love when people say things like "I'll pray for you.", "I'm thinking of you," or "I'll bring over a casserole". Speaking of casseroles, I love that when you bring home a baby, or have surgery, there are people out there that think to organize a calendar full of warm homemade dishes to bring to your doorstep. I love when a chorus of people come together to fill a room with song, or bow their heads together in reverence.
Finding a church family to belong to here has been difficult. The church body is so different here than at home, and we left a church that we really felt comfortable in. It wasn't full of fancy projectors or a full band, but it was full of people that loved us.
They loved us.
Love.
Maybe that's why I love church....because I love to feel loved.
Perhaps it's not the belonging - but the love.
3 comments:
Dear Wyse-Fisher Family,
Please know that your church family at FMC still loves you and prays for you, and we look forward to the day when we are reunited with you. We are keeping you close in the spirit of our Lord and Savior and through the wonders of the internet!
Love,
The Largent Family
This post made me all teary-eyed. I hope you are able to find a very special place to worship while in Northern Ireland. Miss you all!
T-Wyse-
"Churches aren't perfect and I know that. But I am forgiving."
That line, so real. It's something that I have had to learn a lot about the past couple of years. When I walk into a church it is so easy for me to pick out ALL of the things that I don't like, or ALL of the things they should be doing differently. But if we are supposed to extend grace, like Christ extends grace....then I should be able to do that for the Church as well.
Anyways, thanks for the reminder.
Ashley
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