This weekend we'll continue the "Yeah YOU" series with a teaching about belonging. The gist is that in Jesus' church, there is a place for everyone- the black sheep, the wallflowers, the introverted, those with low self-esteem or social anxiety, the shy,the abrasive, etc. etc.This may feel strange to us, because life doesn't usually work this way. We're used to seeing the beautiful, privileged, talented and charismatic people receiving the golden tickets of inclusion while the rest of us are left with our noses pressed to the glass.
Or maybe that's just me.
What experiences have you had when it comes to beloging?
Where have you been accpeted?
Where have you felt like you didn't fit?
What made the difference for you?
8 comments:
I know this will sound like the "church" type answer but with our experience the last year it is the truth.
My family moved to Lexington less than a year ago. We are certain this is the city where God wants us. (Though I highly doubt we will ever "bleed blue". We are more for the Tennessee Orange!) We searched for several months for a church home and never felt accepted. We are a multi-cultural family and we have found it hard to be accepted for that! We decided to give Crossroads a try and we felt like we belonged from the moment we walked in the door. Everyone was so nice and encouraging and we were able to get involved the first day. We have truly felt "at home" at Crossroads and that has helped our move tremendously.
I had been attending another church here in Lex for nearly a year and they had a great group of singers in their choir. I enjoy singing, but I can't read music. A friend who was one of the better singers and a leader in the church told me to show up for practice and I would be welcomed. He said if I heard the songs a few times it would be easy to sing by recall. Okay, sounds good so far, right? Well, I showed up for practice and they ran through the songs so fast that I was totally lost and felt foolish. Nobody talked to me after the practice. I did not return to any other practices. I started coming to Crossroads shortly thereafter and I have felt welcomed from day one. I still can't read music, but I like the music better here and I sing along as best I can and I haven't felt foolish about it yet. I try to go out of my way to talk to people who I see standing around by themselves at church these days. It feels good.
I agree that Crossroads is a great place to feel at home. I have even mentioned that before in one of these blogs. It seems for me that most places I go (jobs, kids' school, etc.) I do not fit in and do not feel like I belong. But recently God is showing me more and more than I don't fit in because I am a Christian and many times I am around people who are not, especially at work. He has given me a peace about not fitting in in this world, but fitting in with Him.
Last year I went to China on business. In every meeting I was in, I was the only 'Westerner' in the room.
The experience was a total mixture.... sometimes you felt like such an outsider because you couldn't even read a menu. Other times you felt special because so many people made special accommodations for you.
In some ways I feel that I experienced some of what handicapped persons feel when they lack some ability that everyone else in the room has.
Neat perspective, keithw. I had the privelage to go to a cool church with a friend from school. It was an all black church, and at first I felt a little awkward, being a hokey from okey (okay, kansas, really) where even the wheat bread is white. After going a few times, everyone went out of their way to make me feel comfortable. I began to understand how Christianity is ecumenical. I once heard that Sunday at 10am is the most segregated time in America. Is there truth in that?
By the way, that was the best choir I've heard.
pc, I couldn't agree more. What's funny though is that when I've accepted that some people reject me based on my relationship with Jesus then he in turn starts placing people in my life who love me just for that reason.
Sometimes, though, I feel that I'm just dangling out there by myself in any situation I'm in. I'm in some really awkward situations professionally right now. But, I can't change those & just keep trying to muddle through.
I'm doing a wedding this weekend for a couple I recently met.
Last night I set at a rehearsal dinner with my wife and 15 strangers.
Yet I felt like I was with friends.
I think the smiles, inclusion in conversations and some really good food all contributed to feeling like I belonged.
I had a similar experience a couple of years ago Fred. I performed a wedding for a bartender that I kinda-sorta knew just from seeing him at the place he worked.
His friends and family made me feel so welcomed and appreciated at that wedding that I couldn't believe it. It still ranks up there as one of my favorite experiences ever.
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