Embarrassment

Have you been embarrassed recently? I mean, seriously embarrassed? I suggest that we have all suffered this indignity at some point in our lives, and survived, but it was probably a painful time. The experience is a two way street, because we can either be the source of embarrassment to others, or on the receiving end from someone who perhaps didn’t mean to cause offence. And let’s face it, in both situations embarrassment can cause offence.

There is a third way where we can be embarrassed on behalf of someone else who may, or may not, be aware of your thoughts or feelings as you try to defend them. I would suggest that this feeling on behalf of another, is the hardest type to bear. Ok, I hear you ask for an example of this third kind.

Imagine you have been an integral part of a well run medical or sports team, and you have been in that position for some years before sickness struck and you could no longer hold your position for a short time. So far so good, and I can hear you now say, well, so what? That’s life! But it’s not over yet. Keep your imagination motor running. That group of people are an important part of your life, and you don’t like to hear anyone bad-mouth them, even if it was not meant to be offensive or hurtful!

That protective attitude remains with you, even though very few (if anyone!) from your team either visits or calls, to see how you are doing. That is bad enough, and it hurts, but it really pains when someone else on the sideline asks you directly if your doctor, nurse, or coach has visited, phoned, or been in touch? It is obviously embarrassing as you try to defend them. How do you defend the indefensible after some weeks of a time lapse?

In a similar way could this be one of the reasons that we also lose some good folks from our churches? In other words, we (and I include myself in this) don’t care enough when it really matters to that hurting member? Added to that, there is a clear interest from members of another church group who really are concerned, and let you know it. Would that be enough to make you change your present team, or even your church? Ouch!

Help?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2Cor1:3,4NIV

No one goes through this life without needing some help in the form of comfort, and let’s face it we can’t always depend on the ‘usual suspects’ to give that support. Sometimes it comes from the unlikely, or to be more accurate, the likely but from a different group or even good friends from another church.

Isn’t it good that the source of ALL comfort is God Himself, and although we may receive that Blessing from an unexpected or unlikely source, it originated directly from God.

I suppose my concern is this. If or when someone in any church fellowship is ill, or feeling overwhelmed and down, shouldn’t their church folks be the ones to step in first? I believe that our God is omniscient and when He sees one of His children in need, that comfort will be given when it is needed most, and by the best person or group. That may be from our own church, but on the other hand, it may not, and God will use the willing and available.

When you know your friend is absent from their place in church, are we first of all able, and secondly willing to step in to provide that Godly comfort? After all, God will supply that need one way or another. Another thought. What does it say about our own fellowship if we so often are not the ones stepping up to be either willing or able, because you will always hear our call? Lord, help me to be an extension of your comfort. After all…...

Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. Isaiah59:1NLT

The Journey - Walking Group

A good way to walk or climb is to do it as a group. That way you get physical, emotional, and moral support from others who may be just like you, fit and healthy, and with a good positive outlook that you will make it to the destination safely. In a strange way when groups walk together, it has been shown that everybody feels less tired than if they had made the same climb alone! That is even more significant and true for those who are not seasoned walkers.

In a group walk there is always a leader. Someone who has been this way before you and is prepared to take a pace that suits even the slowest walker. This leader will know each person, their strengths and weaknesses, both physically and emotionally. Are they all up to the task?

In our faith walk, it is not difficult to see the parallels of the church and its pastor. I am also reminded of the shepherd in the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd’s voice is known to the sheep, and more importantly, the shepherd KNOWS his sheep, even by name. I get the image of some sheep gathered in small groups, and even in a certain part of the sheepfold. The shepherd knows where each sheep is. It is important to understand that he also knew there were 100, and one was lost. How else would he know that one had strayed except he knew the total number in his care?

If we accept the role of the pastor as a shepherd (after all, that is the meaning of the word) he will know each and every person in his care. He will know their names, who they associate with, and where they live, or am I taking the analogy too far? However, there can be no doubt that the role of the leader/shepherd/pastor is crucial to group success in reaching their goal.

For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them. Matthew 18:20

We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. Hebrews 10:25