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Real church.
Tuesday 22nd September 2015 @ 8:48 pm
In the midst of the craziness of a new college year, and in the midst of reflections on a summer that raised more questions for me than provided answers, I had a beautiful moment in ‘church’ recently.
The other day, one of our small number inspired me. It happened as we took turns to answer two questions – one, where did we see the Spirit of God at work in us, in positive ways, over the summer. Two – what are our dreams for Breathe for this coming year.
One of our number has had a tough life. Sean has come through a lot. It would be fair to say that he, more than any of us, struggles to understand the journey that God calls us on. I think it would even be fare to say he doesn’t understand religious language, or connect with the religious language symbols or culture that raised me, and which I frequently default to in my sharing of faith issues.
I would also say Sean has grown closer to God than any of us over the last year.
He has learnt to share life – to share his stories, and know that he is not alone. He has jumped into our gatherings, decorated our prayer room, brought a smile and a vulnerability to the religious activity we all participate in. He is accepting new responsibilities and taking action to face some of the hard hard stuff in his life.
The other day, when asked where he had seen God at work over these last few months, Sean stunned me.
He talked about being a sports teacher for two special needs children. He talked about seeing and understanding the vulnerability with which they trusted him, and he shared about how, in that place of trust, vulnerability, compassion and care, he saw God.
He found God in the midst of special needs children.
But it continued. Sean said more. He said that he realised church was a family, and that this small group of folks gathered in a small room was his family. And his dream was we would be a good family.
And I sat,
breathing the breath of Christ in the room.
I became aware that it was my turn to be overawed, as the Spirit of God once again pushed aside my expectations and understanding.
Sean’s life isn’t fixed today. His realisations and enlightened moments, that teach us all, do not happen every day. His life is not miraculously turned around and swept up in glory … but he knows, and we know, we are family.
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