Tonight, as I sat in a Starbucks reading, I observed some kids skateboarding across the street at a skate park... in the snow. I watched them doing ollies as the snow fell all around them and as I watched I thought about how much they must love skating. To love something so much to give up the warmth of being inside and instead be uncomfortable and cold.
I sat there with my warm cup of coffee inside a warm building and I thought about these kids as an image for ministry. To love something so much that we are willing to be uncomfortable... to love God so much that we are willing to be uncomfortable... How many of us sit in the warmth of our worship services on Sunday mornings, comfortable and unshaken? How many of us ride around in our cars or sit in our houses, comfortable? Are we willing to give some of this up for the sake of the gospel? Are we willing to be uncomfortable for something that could be so much fun?
Those kids were having a good time skating - the rush of landing a jump or speeding from one end of the park to the other... what about the rush of helping another person or living into our calling as children of God? Those kids gave up warmth, gave up comfort for some great fun. Are we willing to do the same?
Just a thought. =)
Kate
Friday, November 23, 2007
Uncomfortable
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2 comments:
Amen and Amen. I think that if we spent a little more time leaving our 'comfort zones' in the church, we would find a world full of people that need to hear Jesus' message of love, grace, and peace. However, instead of being sending stations - places that equip people for ministry then send them out to do it, many churches have become destinations, places that you go to get away from the very places and people to whom God is calling us to reach out.
Unfortunately, most people are not ready to be uncomfortable for the sake of the Gospel. The trick in ministry is challenging them to do that over and over again and still loving them (and not getting bent with them) when they choose to stay inside and drink coffee.
Love,
Erik :>
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