Companion
Ecc 3:9-12 records
"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
Dear Reader, we often underestimate the blessing of relationships. In the "Modern Day West," these are even more undervalued. In "Ancient Near East," without the benefit of mobile phones, quick transport systems, or comfy hotels people had to rely on each other.
Fail to be where you meant to be, only if someone who cared noticed was anything done about it.
Need to keep warm and safe as you travel, find extra people to share warmth and protection.
Two are better than one, and three are better than two.
Community trumps isolation.
The Trinity is community, Father, Son, Spirit. Even before creation, community existed. The creation allows that created, humanity, to join in with this community.
For a community to work beyond being transactional, one has to care about the others involved more than "what you can get out of them."
Caring only comes from being willing to give of oneself. To take the risk, to open oneself to the different. Often difficult, always dangerous, many shy away and suffer in isolation.
The follower of the carpenter should not be in this situation by choice. Circumstances can get the better of all of us in a world which suffers from sin; life partners die, things change, people are forced from their homes. There is nothing we can do about this.
To the area of our influence, we can control things should be different, we need to be open, willing to take risks on other people and willing to see the grace of God work in others lives, as it has on our own.
Transactional needs to be trump by transformational, and this means being willing to care!
"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
Dear Reader, we often underestimate the blessing of relationships. In the "Modern Day West," these are even more undervalued. In "Ancient Near East," without the benefit of mobile phones, quick transport systems, or comfy hotels people had to rely on each other.
Fail to be where you meant to be, only if someone who cared noticed was anything done about it.
Need to keep warm and safe as you travel, find extra people to share warmth and protection.
Two are better than one, and three are better than two.
Community trumps isolation.
The Trinity is community, Father, Son, Spirit. Even before creation, community existed. The creation allows that created, humanity, to join in with this community.
For a community to work beyond being transactional, one has to care about the others involved more than "what you can get out of them."
Caring only comes from being willing to give of oneself. To take the risk, to open oneself to the different. Often difficult, always dangerous, many shy away and suffer in isolation.
The follower of the carpenter should not be in this situation by choice. Circumstances can get the better of all of us in a world which suffers from sin; life partners die, things change, people are forced from their homes. There is nothing we can do about this.
To the area of our influence, we can control things should be different, we need to be open, willing to take risks on other people and willing to see the grace of God work in others lives, as it has on our own.
Transactional needs to be trump by transformational, and this means being willing to care!
Comments