The question is not whether we have wings, but rather how much are we willing to open them up
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Over the course of any month I listen to a number of TED talks. For those of you who may not know of "TED", it is forum that was introduced a number of years ago to feature innovative speakers from the world of technology, education, medicine, literature, and entrepreneurship; but has now grown to encompass just about every aspect of our social, educational and spiritual lives. This past week, the subject involved the concept of living in close proximity to others. Who can argue, after all, that our modern world of cubicles and working from home have fostered a sort of isolation, symbolic in those tiny little work stations but painfully real in every community. An architect was suggesting a new living arrangement, ok, maybe a return to an old one; individual apartment living spaces surrounded by common areas, where families meet several times a week to share a meal and conversation. Isolation, gives way to interaction, and maybe community, or at least that's the hope.
That's fine as far as that goes but that doesn't touch the deeper need for connection. I have been reminded this week again that all of us and each of us, need that other person, who knows us well and is willing to open their wings, and let us get out of the rain; the man or woman who is willing to caution us that dangerous winds are imminent and an earthquake may rock our world, and then help us prepare for the worst. We seem to be a people who prefer better the world of the Hulk, Wonder Woman, and Lone Ranger, rather than Starsky and Hutch, Turner and Hooch, and Batman and Robin. Those old enough to remember might argue that the Lone Ranger had Tonto, but I wonder if those within the Indian community would agree that Tonto was anything more than comic relief. Simply put, we need someone out there who knows our name, loves us, and is willing to shadow us through the difficulties, if not the impossible moments of life. We have come to see the need in business, maybe even in education and the industrial sector, but I seriously question whether it has yet to catch on in the local church. And it is here that it should resound the loudest.
Everything I can discover from Scripture tells me that the young man Timothy, was shaped, in character, ambition, theology, and spirituality by a man who made it a priority to show up, show interest, and show resilience in shaping his life; especially given that Timothy came from a possibly dysfunctional, but clearly divided home where the spiritual interest of his mother was conflicted with the pagan notions of his father. (Acts 16)
Why do we insist on going it alone? Our young couples are floundering amidst the pressure from the world and the frailty of their flesh. Our youngest disciples lack the models they need from the oldest and wisest in the church, and the church body seems more in tune with activity, "where a good time was had by all", rather than do the tough work of assisting the next generation in finding their footing.
So I ask you to put aside your own schedule and man-up, or come of age as a godly woman, and invest yourself in the life of young man, a young women, or young couple, who will some day call you blessed and who will by then be equipped to return the favor into a life of yet another. Who knows, maybe they might just become your caregiver… God does work in mysterious ways. MJC
Walk wisely
MJC
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