April 2009 Newsletter Article

One of the most difficult aspects about community is being open and honest with each other. For months now, well a year really, we have been engaging ourselves in a conversation about what does love look like in context of a community? On our journey together we have done many activities and participated in many different styles/types of ministries which have allowed us to be stretched, and indeed we have been. We have laughed together, prayed together, worshiped together, we have hugged one another, we have cried together, we have been frustrated together, and we have even experienced God together! Although, these aspects of our community are difficult, nothing is as frightening, scary and hard as being open and honest with each other.

Perhaps we have legitimate reasons as to why we cannot be “authentic” with each other. I mean, they are junior high and we are senior high. Or, they go to DCMS and we go to OMS. Better yet, we can’t really be honest with each other because I really only see them once, maybe twice a week. Is this really enough time to be real with each other?
Love is scary. Think about it for a minute. When we become close with someone, sharing with them EVERYTHING and trusting them to care for us, we are risking lots. What if they don’t tell us everything and they lie to me? What if they tell others what I told them? What if they break my heart? What if…

What if as a group we became more intentional about loving each other? What if as a youth group we became more intentional about being honest with each other? What if as a group we become more intentional about praying for each other? What if we put away our cell phones, stop texting others and truly listened to each other? What if we became truly present with each other and meant it when we asked how each others weeks were? What if we actually confessed to each other our struggles, our doubts, are fears, our joys, the things that make us happy, the things that make us sad, the things that alarm us, the things that frustrate us? What if…

God on numerous occasions tried everything to bring reconciliation to the world. In creation God tried, through a great flood God tried, through a walk through a desert that lasted forty years God tried, through prophetic voices God tried. Yet through all those occasions, although they almost “got it”, these people ended up wondering and murmuring to God. God then decides to do it “right” and this is where we see the story of Jesus the Christ unfold in the Gospels. Christ comes to show the love of God to God’s people. Christ comes to show the way to God and shows that God is not in some far off place, but rather, God was with them, is with us and God will always be there! Christ showed them this. In the end, literally, Jesus was with the twelve and told them this: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus showed the disciples how to love and what love was. The disciples took a risk, a great one, to follow this rabbi around for three years. At times it did not make sense to them, they could not understand the reasons why they left their lives to live this one, following Jesus and eventually becoming a part of the movement known as, “The Way.” Again, it wasn’t until later did the disciples come to understand what it was that Jesus was all about.

As Easter draws near and as we draw even closer to the cross on this Lenten journey, I encourage you to look at where we have been as a group, where we are and where you would like to see us go. Once the disciples were alone, they relied heavily on each other. They found themselves being the outcasts in the cities and noticed how people weren’t too fond of their ability to love one another. May we also on this Lenten journey look for the new life that lies within Christ Jesus who is no longer dead but alive. May we look for renewal and fullness of life in Christ together, hoping for the day when we can fully be who we are meant to be with one another.

God be with you friends.

Let us joyfully sing out how Christ has risen, Christ has risen indeed! Alleluia!