As a child I was fascinated by kaleidoscopes. I am all about color, whether in my home or in the outdoors. I love the varying shades that God created. Even in jewelry we can see an array of patterns within the gems, and I am always moved by what I see – color and creativity. Yet, as we look deeper inside the cylinder of a kaleidoscope, we note that the pebbles inside are made up of misshapen broken pieces.
Life groups at our church, or small groups as their frequently dubbed, remind me of those colorful kaleidoscopes. While the body of believers as a whole is a beautiful, powerful force against the evils of this world, a closer inspection of the individuals who make up that group is often plagued with hurt, confusion, sickness, discouragement, and a sundry of other ills.
Life Groups, therefore, are often messy. By this, I mean they are not perfect because they are made up of imperfect people. All of us are sinners, but those who have placed their faith in Jesus are simply forgiven. Unfortunately, many of us still have baggage as a result of our past sins. Even after becoming a Christian, we still struggle to live a life that brings honor to Jesus.
Various beliefs and cultures are also reflected within a life group, and due to various teachings from our pasts, most of us have pre-conceived ideas about what makes a Christian. These differences make for an interesting group discussion at best, and challenging relationships at worst. It takes time to build trust in others so that we begin to let down our guards; to allow others to love us – baggage and all.
Some individuals within the group try to dominate the conversations, while others search for a quiet place hoping they will not be called upon to voice their opinions. Most of us are somewhere between these two extremes. Nevertheless, all of us have our own set of problems to deal with whether it is family relationships, life threatening illnesses, job issues or financial concerns.
Surface smiles and discussions about the weather are usually the norm in public places. But doing ‘life’ together is where we deviate from this rule and let others help to carry our load. It’s a safe zone where love flows causing the walls of our hearts to come down; walls that have kept us in a prison of hopelessness and fear.
God made us creatures that need others. We were not designed to live life alone. It’s the confidence and trust that we place in others that help to release us from our own cell of fear. And as we step outside of our comfort zones, we learn to reach out to others who are hurting.
The Bible says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. That’s because spiritual growth happens when we open ourselves to others. As we study God’s word together, we gain new understanding and knowledge so that we become better spouses, parents, children, employees, and most importantly, better Christians.
It’s extremely important to attend church together, to worship together. But it’s the small groups that make the largest impact in our lives and causes us to become better citizens for God’s Kingdom. And while personalities within the group differ greatly, we learn to nurture the passions God has placed within each of us.
When we are part of a life group we are truly blessed. We learn, we change, and we grow stronger. It’s the transparency of our lives that gives each of us courage as we walk with the Lord.
As an adult, kaleidoscopes are still fun for me, especially in life groups!
2 comments:
You have great insight and understanding. Wonderful description of people and their needs, May God richly bless you, as you reach out to others. Makes me want to attend your small groups. Thanks, Bonnie.
Thank you, Deborah! I pray this blogspot will enrich your life. You are a precious sister.
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