Tonight I was a surrogate mom. Not a physical surrogate, more of an emotional surrogate. My girlfriend just found out today that her little girl is getting married. It's amazing news that you'd share with your mom. What grandma wouldn't beam at the news? Unfortunately, this grandma died of cancer 14 months ago.
I'm honored to sit in. It's what friends do. I know it's not the same & she knows it's not the same. Still, I'm honored.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
hoops
Ok, so far no one has appreciated my idea. But in the name of authenticity, can't we (who serve God in an organized church setting) name things for what they are? Here's what I mean...
In our fellowship, one of the responsibilities I have is to help facilitate the formation of life-giving, God-honoring friendship. Sometimes those friendships happen organically - a couple people both have on steeler's jerseys, strike up a conversation, go out for coffee, then end up helping to raise each others kids.
Of course, this is what we want to have happen all the time. But it doesn't always work that way. In the church we set up 'gatherings' that we hope will result in friendships. We have a connection lunch, a party, a picnic, a class...they are hoops. I know it's a hoop. You know it's a hoop. All God's children know it's a hoop. But that's ok. Sometimes we recognize a lack in our lives (lack of friendship, lack of fun, lack of a good pick up volleyball game, lack of knowledge of something we care about), so we jump through a hoop. We go to the connection lunch. We attend the party. We go to the picnic. We sign up for the class.
Unless we are ready to do away with the hoops once and for all (which I may be in favor of), I think the best thing we can do is celebrate them for what they are and let them be.
Life is full of hoops. Jump the ones that suit you.
In our fellowship, one of the responsibilities I have is to help facilitate the formation of life-giving, God-honoring friendship. Sometimes those friendships happen organically - a couple people both have on steeler's jerseys, strike up a conversation, go out for coffee, then end up helping to raise each others kids.
Of course, this is what we want to have happen all the time. But it doesn't always work that way. In the church we set up 'gatherings' that we hope will result in friendships. We have a connection lunch, a party, a picnic, a class...they are hoops. I know it's a hoop. You know it's a hoop. All God's children know it's a hoop. But that's ok. Sometimes we recognize a lack in our lives (lack of friendship, lack of fun, lack of a good pick up volleyball game, lack of knowledge of something we care about), so we jump through a hoop. We go to the connection lunch. We attend the party. We go to the picnic. We sign up for the class.
Unless we are ready to do away with the hoops once and for all (which I may be in favor of), I think the best thing we can do is celebrate them for what they are and let them be.
Life is full of hoops. Jump the ones that suit you.
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