The optimistic view of any change is that it's a new opportunity!
In 2 Corinthians we find an inspiring story of how Paul changes his plans…
reroutes around his planned second visit to Corinth…
Paul knew the Corinthians were not ready for him to stop back by, and that if he did it would only cause further strife…
so he changed his plans.
Paul was concerned over the unity within the church there. He was not just being fickle.
The Corinthians had issues… and for Paul to stop by again would only further complicate the matter.
Sometimes I wonder about this too… whether our world today is really into this unity thing. For instance, I have some ideas that, like Paul’s detour around Corinth, I’m afraid to throw out there for fear of really loosing some people along the way… that maybe there is something about our place in the process that says we’re just not completely ready to embrace the whole unity concept. Whether we are willing to admit it or not, there appear to be some very real barriers. Unity sounds good on the surface, but at times it seems the unity concept is like trying to site a landfill… it’s something we all know we need just “not in my back yard.”
I read Francis Chan’s blog yesterday, and his recent post about unity . It seems he’s struggled with this too… and like my realization, Chan is still praying about it and searching for the answers.
The unity thing is so much more we than me. Like I wrote on Monday, this would be God’s agenda , not Chris’. So I’m writing today to say I’m Thinkin’ and praying a lot about the unity thing but not entirely sure where He is leading me. I hope you’ll share in this effort, our community and world today have tremendous potential, many challenges, and some very deep issues that I know we can overcome with God’s love.
Let all that you do be done in love – 1 Corinthians 16:12
Without a doubt, loving sincerely is the starting point.
I’m really aiming to accomplish something good.
What do you see as the greatest challenge to creating more unity within our communities and world today?
Uh, the greatest challenge in my community is…me. Oh, I try to be unifying. But sometimes it’s hard to remember that other people feel loved, valued and unified in exactly the opposite way I do. I need to love others the way THEY feel loved. Great post. I love Francis Chan, too.
good point Carol, we’re all a little different and have different needs. Thanks!