A Place of Belonging … is there such a Place?

A place of belonging – is there such a place? Ephesians 2.11-22; Philippians 1.3-7

Hi. 

Who notices when you aren’t there?  I mean, maybe besides your family…does anyone really care how you are doing?  Who encourages you to keep the faith when the going gets tough?  When you are sick, does anyone call to check on you?  If you moved out of the area, would you leave a void, or would no one likely notice?  Has anyone ‘been there’ for you when life tossed you about, such that you did not know up from down?  Hmmm . . .

On the other hand . . . may I ask, who do you encourage?  Have you recently reached out to lend a hand, or send a note, to someone who is hurting?  When is the last time you brought a meal to someone in need?  Do you spend much time praying for the heartfelt needs of others?  Have you had the opportunity to extend the handshake of ‘welcome’ to another lately?  Have you walked alongside’ some friends that have weathered the rough storms of life, and seen them through to the other side?  I mean, how often do you GIVE of yourself to others?  Hmmm . . .

The answers to the above are two sides of the same coin— they are reflections of your involvement in the lives of other people, and vice versa.  If you could answer in a mostly positive manner, it is likely that you are an active participant in a community of faith.  I am thinking of a community of Christian faith. 

Paul writes, ‘I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel…it is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart . . .’ I can completely identify with Paul’s feelings for the Philippian believers to whom he was writing!  More than a decade ago, when my family moved from Northern to Southern California, I left behind a close-knit community of Christian women that I had built, then built up, and led for three years.  In our new home a week, boxes unpacked, everything was fine … until my household got busy with their new assignments: Matthew was a senior and Amy a junior in high school, Dylan was a kindergartner, and Danny, 2 years old, hung with his mama.  Dean resumed his job … Wait… what about me? 

Then I realized, I had moved far away from my community—the women I had loved, encouraged, and nurtured in the Lord; women who had loved and encouraged me … and I missed them dreadfully!  They were my community, and I was cut off from them and also my brother and his wife, and I don’t think I had never been so lonely before.

Now?  Similarly, I have led Women of Passion for more than 12 years …. we have studied, prayed, laughed, cried, ministered, celebrated, mourned, and retreated together.  If I had to move away from them … well, I would experience an even greater loss—as our time together, and mutual investment in one another and the kingdom of God, has been longer and deeper.  Like Paul, I would give thanks for them, and I would always carry them in my heart . . .

And then there is the band of brothers, of which I am one—my corporate guys.  For five years we have studied, prayed, fasted, praised and sought God together.  I care deeply for them—in a way that the world could never comprehend or understand.  It is right, it is pure, it is godly, and it is God-honoring.  It is an authentic community where they allow me to lead them deeper into the Word of God… and there is safety, sharpening, acceptance, accountability, encouragement and trust—we are a cord of three strands, which as the writer of Ecclesiastes says, is not easily broken.  So, yes, I understand Paul’s heart toward the Philippians:

“I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart… ”  Philippians 1.3-7

Community is also a place of belonging … Please, would you hit ‘reply’ and tell me about your place of belonging?  Describe it … or the one you would like to find, what you would want in it.  Ah, a place of belonging … is there such a thing?

Christine

PastorWoman.com