Relationships

"We are born into this world looking for some who is looking for us."

The opening words of our speaker this week. Very appropriate words since our teaching focus was titled 'Relationships.' Of course, this wasn't about romantic relationships, but about the every day ones that we form with our families, friends, and co-workers.

Our first day we watched a video titled 'Godspeed.' Unfortunately, it is not available on YouTube to watch again. It made a very powerful impact on all of us. Not because was awe-inspiring, but because it was quiet and peaceful. It was real. It was true.

'Godspeed,' a video made to share the testimony of an American Pastor moving his family to a tiny village in Scotland for a season, and the many things he learned about what it truly means to serve God and others. From the very beginning he learned that he wouldn't have an office in a church building, but that a 'parish' is flesh and blood -not brick and mortar. A parish covers the entire vicinity of the town it serves.

This pastor learned how to walk the streets going from door to door, visiting, developing relationships, going at 3mph walking rather than 60mph in his car. He discovered all the things he never noticed before because he moved slower. -Even on Sunday's, he learned to allow his sermons to become relational.

And when he and his family returned to the States, they found themselves challenged with finding a way to bring Godspeed (3mph) to their neighborhood. And he would continue walking the streets of his 'parish' and not sit in his office all day waiting to be approached. He would approach.

There was so much to the film that I couldn't possibly cover all of it. But what I suppose I admired most was that this man and his family, after discovering such a tranquil and simple life, they could have chose to hide away in it forever. But they didn't. Nor did they dismiss it as impossible to co-exist in their chaotic city. They now endeavor to bring God's speed to the streets of their neighborhood, which they now view as their 'parish.'

It's easy to hide yourself away in something good when you've found it. It's very hard to go back to what you've known and try to incorporate what you've experienced into your every day life. That takes a lot of guts! ...But I suppose no more than what Jesus had. ;)

Of course we also discussed conflict resolution, understanding our personalities (and others) a little better,and recognizing our strengths and weaknesses in our relationships and working with others. It may sound trivial on the surface, but people have left mission work, churches, and other organizations because of unresolved conflict issues with one or two people. And then they blame the entire organization for it. It's heartbreaking. I can clearly understand why this was a necessary topic.

"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 

Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."

-James 4:1-3 (ESV)

We had an opportunity to practice this on Friday when my SOMD went out on a mini-outreach practice. There, we had our leaders (assigned for this day), create a ministry plan for us, and we learned how well we functioned together while also applying intentional application to achieving our ministry objectives. At the end of it, we debriefed. And while we did have a few hiccups, it was actually a very good day. My team has a genuine heart for service and ministry, and I am proud of how well everyone listens to each other.

We had a wonderful dessert night this past Thursday in our Hospitality building, and our hostess shared both her generous serving spirit along with great stories of her many years in ministry (and a delectable ice cream cake)!

It has been a little sad too as the ECO trainees left this past Friday for their Outreach. So my room is void of two roommates, and our eating hall as been very quiet with them all gone. :(

...and in a little more than two weeks we head to Greece.

-Incidentally, the opening words I quoted from our speaker were not about us looking for romance. It was about us finding the One Who has been waiting for us all of our lives.