Category: Spiritual Formation

The Beatles sang about “getting by with a little help from my friends.” I don’t think they were that far off in this idea. Over the past couple of years I have come to appreciate the role that community plays in helping us through those tough times.

My default response to tough times has alway been to withdraw into my own little world, put up walls and work things out on my own. To be honest, in the long run that hasn’t worked out very well for me. I always thought that I was simply wired that way and I didn’t need anyones help. I don’t know if it was arrogance, pride, embarrassment or some other reason I didn’t want to seek the wisdom of others. There were times when I wouldn’t even seek the wisdom of God. It was the attitude that I can do this on my own. I think that Satan was dancing with delight as I would withdraw from the world because this would cause me to cut myself off from others and from God.

From my studies and from pratical application I have come to see that we are in fact wired not to be alone but to be in community. We each bring into our own communities different gifts, talents, experiences and view points that can help the rest make better sense of life and the things that life throws our way.

The early church is a great example of this. In Acts we see the people coming together sharing wath they have for the good of the community. I the time I spend in jail with a group of men we help each other shape our lives and our life stories. My spiritual director has help me by asking questions that help me thing or rethink about thinks going on in my life – to bring clarity and understanding. My councilor has helped me to work through some of my stumbling blocks. I have a friend who asks me the tough questions about what is going on in my life. I have a small group with whom I can share prayer requests. Finally, I have a wife who comes along side my on the eclectic journey I call life. I also know that God is apart of this whole process for it is His still small voice I listen for, it is the Holy Spirit who helps me as I reflect on where God has been at work in the past and is helping me connect the dots.

Doing life really is about community – about “getting by with a little help from my friends.” How healthy is your soul care community? How healthy is your relationship with God?

On Saturday Aug 6 2011, my granddaughter will be dedicated. Below is the blessing my wife and I have written to celebrate the occasion.

Three words that describe the blessings that you have brought to us and that we in turn can give back to you.

Joy – God has gifted you with the ability to wash away the harshness of the day with a simple smile or smirk from your beautiful face. You are so joyful in turn you  bring joy to those around you. May God continue to use you to brighten the hearts of those who come across your path. May you continue to find joy in your life as you grow and become the person God has created you to be, with the giftedness of an encourager and the joyfulness of a joy giver.

Transition – God is using you to shape and transform a lot of people. You mom and dad have been transformed into caring, loving parents doing the best they can with this wonderful gift they have been given. You have transformed your grandma and grandpa into a new role in life, watching their daughter grow into a wonderful mom and taking on the responsibility of proud grand parenting. We in turn will walk along side you as you are transformed into a child of God.

Unique – Though you do not know it yet, God has created you to do things that you may not believe you can do. Things that on your own you can’t, but by leaning on God you can. As you grow we pray that God will open your eyes to the things you see around you, your heart to His gentle nudging and your ears to His still small voice so that you may know the unique role you might play in being His hands and His feet as you sojourn through life.