Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge," Knowledge puffs up but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is know by him.
(1 Cor.8:1-3)
For awhile I was lost on how to start. Then I turned my attention to conflict and how hard it is to see the other side and to come to some understanding of the "understandings" of others - especially when I know what I know and that seems to work for me. No matter what is at the heart of our heated arguments, there is always more to learn, more to hear, more to see, more to know...and that discipline never comes to an end. We tend to fight over everything and anything that creates a bit of distance between me and you...even the smallest division can become reason to separate from you! Odd, isn't it!?! We do not reconcile ourselves with one another and live in peace through the knowledge we are able to gather. "Let's talk," usually leads to more reasons to be separated from you. But then, it would be good for us to begin at a different point as we attempt to deal with our differences - no matter how small or large. When we love God we are not pulled into the fight of what is more right. To begin as people who love God is to already have on our side the God who knows the very depths of our hearts and already has done all the work necessary to transform us. With this love of God who already loves us beyond our comprehension, we can approach each other as people who love our God who is already madly in love with us. That puts us in the same arena and essentially on the same team. We do not have to deal with one another with great moves that try to show our superiority or with great gusts of wind that never bring a single breath of fresh air into our lives.
Connection: We have to see ourselves in the same reality - known by God, beloved of God, lovers of our God...and, by that, lovers of one another. It is a powerful place to start and we need know nothing more than that to begin our journey into community.
Praise to you, O God, for you have known us from the very beginning and by your love you bring us close that we might be drawn to you with a love that opens our heart to your will and our hearts to those around us. We never know just where that will lead us, but we are assured at every step that you know us and will pull us into your gracious Reign. Amen
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