1 Corinthians 12:25-31 The Message “The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything. You’re familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his “body.”
How are you my brothers and sisters? The heat of summer is cranking up! As the Covid numbers drop and the world opens up, everybody is longing to be outside and return to normal. One thing we know for sure, there is a “new normal.” Things will never be what they were pre-Covid! One of the many things Covid showed us is how many people especially Black and Brown people were without food, clothing, housing, and sustainable employment. These were problems before Covid but the pandemic revealed them exponentially. What a time it has been and continues to be! I have come to realize if one part is not doing well, we all are not doing well! We must do our part be it sharing a gift, talent, and/or treasure so we can be whole!
Oh, how I long for a beach and water! It has been two years since my annual “me” vacation where I bask in the sun and take in warm ocean waters. How I miss running in the sand! But think of this, when you go to the beach, you will gradually wade into the water to test the water temperature until you decide to let yourself be fully covered in the water. Is this how we are when dealing with those who are suffering? Are we putting our toe in to test our comfort level first? How do you keep from drowning if the need is too deep? We wade into their suffering or away from it. As we go deeper and the water gets warmer, I believe we are coming alongside to help those in need. In so doing, it also changes us. Your issue changes from your challenge to our challenge because we are connected as a body. If your challenge does not become my challenge, it indicates there is something wrong with the body. If I do not feel the pain of those suffering, that indicates the problem is even worse…someone could drown or even worse lose their life! The part then makes the whole suffer in so many ways! We will be weaker, but we must stand in our strength! We must work together for the common good of all!
God has and is preparing us all to be kings and queens! We are HIS children! Many are suffering and hurting which means we all are! Never become so removed that you lose touch who you or whose you are! Never forget those who helped you along the way! Never forget where you came from! But for the grace of God!
As you know this is #StuffValSaid, but what do you say? How are working to make parts equal the whole? How are you uplifting others? How are keeping yourself and your brothers and sisters from drowning?
As said in Swahili, Ashay…” Be with us!!!” I love and honor you!!! Ubuntu “I am, because you are.”
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