"What I've felt..."

"What I've known,
Never shined through in what I've shown.
Never free,
Never me,
So I dub thee UNFORGIVEN..." - Metallica, "Unforgiven"

"It is not the quantity of people you know; it is the quality of the connections with them." - Rabbi Daniel Lapin

I was thinking about this situation Bren and I had dealt with fairly recently. For the longest time we had struggled with the thought that we didn't try hard enough or give the situation enough time to see results. We felt like failures in a sense, as if there was something wrong with us. But oddly enough, we found solace in talking to others that had experienced what we had. Their stories of trying for even longer than us and (as strangely as this sounds) their own story of failing in the same situation comforted us. It helped us to realize that although there were some things we could have done a little differently, by and large it probably wouldn't have given us what we were looking for.

Rabbi Lapin had the above nugget in his weekly newsletter that I subscribe to. The whole newsletter spoke about loneliness & how man was not created to be alone. He brought up an interesting point, in the old testament when cherubs are mentioned - there are always 2 , not one. After Adam & Eve were banished from Eden, 2 cherubs were sent to protect the entrance. On the ark of the covenant, 2 cherubs are located on the cover. 2 of each animal ended up on the ark of Noah. Paul in the new testament speaks often about lifting eachother up and encouraging one another. Connecting with others to not only share the love of Christ, but also to share in eachother's experiences & troubles.

It's important that we connect with eachother. Paul explains that although we are one body in Christ, we are all different parts of that body. Because we are different doesn't mean that one is more superior than the other, it means that we are ALL important whether we are a "hand", a "foot", or an "eye". By making connections with others, we can enrich our own lives and expand our knowledge by enjoying eachothers unique qualities & gifts.

Yesterday I sent an email to someone about setting up a small group in our home. I've facilitated FPU classes, helped teach classes, & we've hosted the occasional prayer group. Bren & I felt led to send out this request in order to make some real, genuine, & solid connections with fellow believers in Christ. We pray that this is where God is leading us...

How are your connections? Are they strong or in need of some repair?

"Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”" - Gen 2:18, NLT

"Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!" Romans 12:16, NLT

MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com