We need other people.
Other people ground us, they stop us become self-focussed, and give a wider perspective.
Other people can give us love, support, care – especially on those days when we can’t make it on our own.
Other people can be life companions, sharing our journey, hearing our questions, questioning our assumptions.
We need other people.
Henri Nouwen asks us to consider who is loving us, who is supporting us, who is cheering us on, who is giving us ‘positive unconditional strokes’– ie knowing and accepting us. Who is reminding us that to God, we are so precious and loved? Who lets us know that we are precious to them?
And as we do that, to be truly part of community, we need to consider for whom, we can be that person.
Ephesians 4:1-6
4 As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. 3 Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. 4 All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God’s people. 5 We have only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. 6 There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us.
Who, today, can we cheerlead for, walk alongside, hold their tears, make sure that they know they are loved?
Lord,
I want to thank you
for those people who support me,
who gently cheer me on,
who hold me up when I need it,
who walk alongside,
who hear my questions.
Thank you
that they bring themselves,
and you,
to my life.
I pray,
that I too
may bring those things
to the lives of others
in my community
This year for Advent, some friends and I are using Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen. You’re welcome to join us on this journey. Feel free to comment here, or on Twitter using #adventbookclub
Pam's Perambulation 