Do I Love?
Full question: Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward, or disregard?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
This question feels a bit "catch all" as there are a lot of categories here and on any given day, I might fall into any of them. Some days, more than one! But since I've just gotten home from the week-long mission trip in St. Louis, I can't help but reflect on the experience in light of this question. Allow me to explain.
Several years ago, on one of the first mission trips I led, I had another pastor tell me that mission trips are a microcosm of Christian community. The good, the bad and the ugly usually come out as personalities meld, sometimes clash and usually try to get along. And, on that particular mission trip, he couldn't have been more right. It was a difficult experience almost from the word "go." Every trip since, though none as pointedly as that one, has proved the statement true.
This past week, there were probably opportunities to do or engage in any of these behaviors. None of us do things the same way; we all have our own approach to getting the tasks done. But I will say every day I saw the group come together to get the jobs done. We weeded gardens, built shelves, repaired fences, planted onions, took care of children and rallied together even when things didn't go the way we had envisioned. We came home united as a team, without fear, resentment or dislike.
The question is whether or not we (and all of us) can take those behaviors into everyday life. Christ calls us to love, beyond any fears, disregard or critical spirits. Love, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, triumphs over all of our feelings and fears because love is a choice. We found that we loved the kids we served at the shelter this week because we chose to. Even before we arrived, we chose to love them. And living out that love made all the difference in the world. We pray it made a lasting difference for them as well.
So, what about you this week? Did you fear, resent or criticize your neighbor? Or did you take at least a small step toward loving those around you?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
This question feels a bit "catch all" as there are a lot of categories here and on any given day, I might fall into any of them. Some days, more than one! But since I've just gotten home from the week-long mission trip in St. Louis, I can't help but reflect on the experience in light of this question. Allow me to explain.
Several years ago, on one of the first mission trips I led, I had another pastor tell me that mission trips are a microcosm of Christian community. The good, the bad and the ugly usually come out as personalities meld, sometimes clash and usually try to get along. And, on that particular mission trip, he couldn't have been more right. It was a difficult experience almost from the word "go." Every trip since, though none as pointedly as that one, has proved the statement true.
This past week, there were probably opportunities to do or engage in any of these behaviors. None of us do things the same way; we all have our own approach to getting the tasks done. But I will say every day I saw the group come together to get the jobs done. We weeded gardens, built shelves, repaired fences, planted onions, took care of children and rallied together even when things didn't go the way we had envisioned. We came home united as a team, without fear, resentment or dislike.
The question is whether or not we (and all of us) can take those behaviors into everyday life. Christ calls us to love, beyond any fears, disregard or critical spirits. Love, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, triumphs over all of our feelings and fears because love is a choice. We found that we loved the kids we served at the shelter this week because we chose to. Even before we arrived, we chose to love them. And living out that love made all the difference in the world. We pray it made a lasting difference for them as well.
So, what about you this week? Did you fear, resent or criticize your neighbor? Or did you take at least a small step toward loving those around you?
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