What is it that I seek
from gatherings
of these people
who view themselves
as a congregation?
Do I wait
for an experience—
connection
of my spirit with His,
where I tremble
at the core of my being
as His gentle voice
reverberates in time
with the beating
of my heart?
Do I participate
in this time,
desiring communion
with community;
one heart, one voice,
standing in gratitude and awe,
humbled, together
before Elohim?
Though I stand
in this assembly of saints,
they remain strangers
on seemingly similar paths,
which diverge just enough
to create a great gulf
of passion and perspective.
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4 comments:
Wow.
Lyric, I would honestly like to hear why you said, wow. I'm not fishing for a compliment, because I suspect the wow had more significance than that. Any feedback you would care to offer would be welcome, be it positive, negative, whatever. I value your perspective.
Gary, in so few words you captured so many years of my experience, disappointment, and struggle...it really took my breath away.
I'm a PK kid and was a pastor's wife for a decade. The barriers and blunders that occurred throughout these years have formed a great deal of who I am and what I believe. They have also left their scars...
What is it I want from this connection in "congregation" is, in my opinion, a core question that serves to highlight for me how misplaced some of my expectations are...Far too often I focus on what others bring to the connection when the more pressing issue (one I have more control over!) is what am I offering?
It's hard to articulate the feeling of standing arm-in-arm with a fellow sojourner, despite being strangers. This wonderful (and sometimes frightful) online community has created connections with individuals I may never meet this side of heaven but that has not diminished the connection we build upon. How does in flourish in space and time when sitting next to those in the same pew, at the same time feel stagnant...
The ultimate connection I desire is communion with Him. But I know according to His design that communion is made sweeter, richer, and deeper in fellowship with others...
Your last line "great gulf of passion and perspective"...wow. Profound.
See...I'm rambling and can't even make a single point... LOL But I did try... ;)
Lyric, first of all, I really appreciate that you have taken the time to answer my question.
Yes, your third paragraph hits the nail on the head.
My wife asked me this week if I could change my focus to the fellowship I DO share with those who do not share my passion and perspective. In theory that should be a simple thing. But life is not a simple thing.
Still, that seems to be what I am reading in your words, is a powerful affirmation of the beauty and strength of fellowship with God is enhanced by our fellowship with others.
I have a great sense of loss because of my feeling that I do not share a depth of fellowship with many who call themselves Christians. I ask myself, is this because I have artificially cut myself off from them? Are my passion and perspective wrong then? I don't think so because I do see that there are a growing number of others who espouse the same beliefs. In fact, that's how my perspective changed. It changed not because I adopted a foreign concept, but because when I was exposed to those beliefs they resonated with who I already am.
There I go again, "thinking out loud" on my keyboard.
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