The Grace of Space

Glenn on Fellowship

I have lived in close, intentional Christian community for most of my life- and frankly, I LOVE it! But I'm called to a simple (one room with my wife, no private car, basic material goods) life and the freedom and lack stress on the one hand is a gift from God!

Yet there are issues, especially in dealing with (by design of God and personal desire) broken, hurting people. Whether in leadership or not, one cannot, should not and must not insulate one's self from the pain in other's lives. Living in inner-city Chicago among relatively poor and often very disfunctional people is by no means a continual stream of fun :) Of course there are moments:

On two consecutive days I crossed the street passing a guy who was so dark (in the eyes, expression) and angry man who just scowled at me and everyone else, not speaking a word. But on both days he wore a black T shirt with the white-lettered inscription "I HAVE NO ISSUES"! I had to really work not to laugh both times...

Of COURSE we -all- have issues. Certainly not all are called to live in close proximity to one another. All fellowships of any health with serve hurting people... who hurt others... who are helped or not helped along the path together. And you know what? God's grace sometimes provides space!

Distance is what in part, I joined a close, intentional Christian community to span. I no longer wanted to see my Christian friends once or at best, twice weekly. I needed daily prayer, daily Bible input, daily conviction about living out my faith and deepening in my walk. Little did I realize that I'd have to love and mostly, not be able to escape from other burdened people like myself if I lived in such a community!

Hear me well- I LOVE it, but I am thankful for times of solitude, of space, that I'm not literally hanging out with some of these needy folks every moment of every day. That could be counter productive to both of us!

So my point is that there are times when space (distance from a hurting, hurtful person) is a real and present gift from God. It became clear early on that many (most?) in the body of Christ did well to have seperate homes and that many of them were neither called to such a lifestyle as I, nor could they frankly handle the intensity of relationships much past an hour or two each week in a common building (Sunday morning). Consider your entire congregation moving in together, living, cooking, raising kids, having young, old, every tribe, race and subculture all closely living together. Now consider the additives of inner-city poor, mentally ill, deeply needy and many deeply troubled folks in that mix. This is -my- call... and by now some of you are gasping "Thankfully not MINE"! Amen.

The grace of space. Thank God for it. I do, and I have less than most in the western world :)

Posted 12/05/04