Heavenly. A cup of Dark Chocolate Peanut M&Ms. Must be the most amazing candy ever invented. I love M&Ms. Who doesn't? I wish I could be more original. And, ohhhh, a cup of Earl Gray tea. Iced, this time. Had it hot this morning. I use good quality, whole leaves and so it can be re-infused a 2nd time. :)
So back to place theory; I have recently begun reading a (yet another!) book. This one is entitled For the Family's Sake (The Value of Home in Everyone's Life) by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. Susan is the daughter of Francis and Edith Schaeffer of "L'Abri Fellowship" in Switzerland.
In building her case for home, and the need of such a place, (whether married, single, with children or without and so on), Susan speaks of the transient life resulting from merely "living together" (for a couple) as opposed to marrying. She states that without an initial commitment (marriage), the outcome of a couple's future remains uncertain and therefore, there cannot be lasting stability. Hmmmm, might explain the sad state of so many broken homes and "lost" children in America today.
One of my favorite quotes about home, is by Ellis Peters, and repeated by Susan in her book. "This is where I put my feet up and thank God" (referring, of course, to home). Ellis was single her entire life and dearly enjoyed travel, but referred to the exotic and delightful cities she visited as "...Sunday treats to be visited, marveled at, enjoyed, and remembered...graces to ornament and vary the basic stability of a weekday life...". A brilliant perspective and a good case for "home" base necessity, even for those who love to travel!
Susan makes the case for "home" being more than a geographical place, but also that they should be "part of a community". The Norman Rockwell life, so to speak. Community offers belonging; it offers security and fellowship. Contrast that, to the life of a refugee, who is geographically displaced, but often displaced from community as well. As I read, my thoughts wandered to the lives and community of early Christians. Perhaps this was a reason that the early Church was to be as brothers and sisters in Christ; as one Body; a Community together. They may have been geographically displaced, or at times, separated, yet to remain ONE BODY regardless offered belonging, and community. That would be another entire study on its own, but clearly, our Creator knew our need for Community, just as He knew our need for Home.
We have that same need today, yet it seems that perhaps few churches offer community in its truest sense. It would be increasingly difficult to maintain community in a mega church; but even outside of that, even in the context of a smaller church, we must look at our lives. Are we intertwined with other Believers? Do we have unity and fellowship with them? Depend on them and they on us? Or are we merely Sunday morning spectators? Then, we leave the building free to live and pursue our "own" lives.
Finally, within the first few chapters, Susan also reminds us that in order to be rooted and bear fruit, we must accept limitations. In choosing stability, we may relinquish other choices. We must commit to "home". To "here I stay". We will have failures and setbacks; we must choose to stay. Of course, ultimately, we must choose to stay grounded first and foremost, in Jesus. He must be the foundation for our family tree; the foundation for our home. In times of weakness, we can call on Him and He will be our strength, our refuge.
No comments:
Post a Comment