Categories: uncategorized
Date: 09 March 2005 10:56:34
Two families left our group. That kinda hurts. Not that they stormed off or anything. They just sent a little email. Too busy, can't commitment. The decisions were made two months apart. They have decided to start meeting together for playstation and beer. Which I think is great. I had hoped they would have felt free to do playstation and beer in the group, but I guess not. I kinda feel like we failed them. I'm glad that they have decided to get together and do something that will help themselves.
My philosophy has always been to not expect anything of anyone. If people don't turn up for six weeks, and get grumpy and hurt and take it out on me, that's fine, I'm not going anywhere. I'm still going to be there, trying to love them. How do I live this out when people say, "I don't want to be in the group"?
After our last group discussion, "When do you personally feel the presence of God?" to which I replied, "amoungst the trees," and most others said, "singing in church" my eyes saw a world that was bigger than my own experience. I must confess, and did to the group, that I love everything about our group, because I do most of the organising to suit my needs and experiences. To grow in my faith, to feel connected to God, I need to connect to people, to be in nature, to sit around a fire, to have friendships, to serve others, to draw pictures (to which someone asked me, 'Are you a teacher?'), to make things, to eat together, to have communion with cheesecake, or whatever our common meal consists of that day.
So I asked, "What do you need to help you connect to God and grow in your faith?" I left my notes there (one day I'll be organised) but I think generally the answer was bible study, discussions about what the bible says about life issues, hearing each others answers to spiritual/faith/life questions, and being able to deal with real conflict with each other.
Maybe I don't get that worship experience, time of responding to God in church, so I've been looking to the group. Maybe others don't get the chance to discuss bible teaching in church, so they need it in the group.
Why don't I think I need bible study in our group? - I think I may get it from reading blogs!
Is this what everybody needs? or is this what they expect?
It was suggested that we meet monthly, and a different person organises whatever they want, whether that be a walk on the beach complete with poetry reading, or listening to a tape of bible teaching, or playstation and beer.
I really enjoyed the discussion. I hope we did a good job of listening to each other. I have a feeling I did an O.K. job of listening, but not a good job. We ate good food. We sat around the table for hours. I felt pretty close to everyone.