Kindness in Action

This Sunday was our Church’s introductory Sunday into the Fruit of the Spirit, Kindness. Niqui, my fellow teacher, and I put together a definitional teaching on the fruit and in the process I learned a good deal about kindness that was all new to me. One of the things I learned is that kindness is not a passive response to others; it is a very active and intentional effort to extend service and respond appropriately to others. While studying some of the aspects of ‘response to others’, I encountered one of my weaknesses, listening.

Listening is a difficult skill to cultivate for me. I oftentimes find myself thinking ahead and formulating my answer to others instead of honing in and hanging on every word they say. So this week I am actively seeking out ways in which to practice my listening skills, my kindness, towards others.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to observe a forum of discussion offered to my particular age group (20’s – 30’s) by our elders. I was overwhelmed with gratefulness for the manner in which the forum was conducted. We were actively being listened to and not debated on what our dreams, visions, aspirations, hopes, and even gripes were in the area of ministry. I felt this was an incredible demonstration and powerful example given to us by our elders in the area of kindness and I want to thank you so much for teaching me by example, the art of listening.

As is usually the case with all effective teaching, I am motivated to act on and reciprocate the kindness. And so I would like to take this opportunity to offer up this particular blog to actively listen to my elders express the dreams, hopes, expectations and even gripes they have for my generation, uninterrupted. You exercised incredible kindness and self control in listening to us and now I want to sit at your feet and listen to you. What kinds of things motivate you in your ministry? How can we best help you, serve you, and empower you? In our desire for increased leadership and responsibility how can we best incorporate you into that pursuit and not run over or push you aside in the process? The only rules to this discussion are you must be 40+ to comment and no fighting. Simply express. I want to know, experience, and understand where you are coming from.

I See You

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3

I finally watched the movie, Avatar, this week. At first I thought it was going to be a cheesy plot, brought solely to life by cool graphics, but about halfway through the movie I began to recognize some profound spiritual truths worked into the storyline. This always makes a movie worth watching for me because I am then able to use what I have learned to convey the gospel and God’s truths to others through a common interest or venue.

Throughout the course of the movie there was an underlying idea that all life is connected. In the past I have avoided this mentality in a pantheistic sense that the divine is in and through all things. While I do not believe that the divine is in everything I do believe that in the physical world, all life is connected. And likewise, in the spiritual realm, all divine life is connected. Our interconnectivity is not taken seriously when we fail to realize that every decision we make is going to impact others around us in some manner.

In Avatar, the earthly deity, Eywa (eerily close in pronunciation to Yahweh) can feel every disturbance in the life force of the planet she supports and she groans over and grieves these disturbances. Life of any kind is extremely important to the natives, the Na’vi. The Na’vi people have a phrase they use to honor and respect the life in every living being. (This phrase is also used as a greeting amongst some native American tribes.)

I see you.

I see you as a living being, as part of the ecosystem, as a life that affects me, and I respect that life even when we may be in conflict with each other. When I heard this phrase it struck a chord in my spirit. I thought of Christ who lives in those of us that are believers in Him. In Christ we live, and move and have our being. - Acts 17:28. As believers in Christ we are all interconnected in the Spirit and are bonded together.

All too often we forget our interconnectivity and we attempt to sever our bonds and ties. But if the impact of those severed ties avidly seen in the physical realm is so great then it stands to reason that the spiritual realm would function much the same way and the ties I sever with one brother or sister will ultimately have a cataclysmic effect on our spiritual ecosystem and is going to hurt the “body of Christ”. We may think that putting distance between us and those we have difficulty with will somehow lessen our discomfort and unpleasantness in the body but in all actuality even the slightest whisper of movement in one part of our world can have a tremendous effect on another part of the world. And so what we must do is strive (make every effort) with great love to hold together the bond of peace that the Spirit offers us through Christ.

When we sever these ties do we really, truly see Christ in our fellow believers? Does Jesus Christ in me, look at and recognize Jesus Christ in you? He should. Do I see others through the eyes of Christ? Christ in me, should look around at others and say…

I see you.

Even when we are at odds with one another, that is alright. I heard a sermon recently on the growth opportunities one may find in and through conflict. What I took away from that was this: There is going to be conflict; we are going to disagree. I may not agree with you but I see you, and honor, respect the life of Christ that is in you.

I see you.

When we refuse to see each other and honor the divine life that exists in each and every one of us who believe in Christ then we grieve and disturb the Holy Spirit who is attempting to bond us all in peace. My brothers and sisters, no matter what our differences are or where we experience conflict, I wish you to know that I see you. Christ that is in me recognizes Christ that is in you. You are an influential and important part of my spiritual ecosystem and I appreciate, respect and honor the life that is in you.

If we cannot look at one another and truly see through the eyes of Christ then there may be something wrong with our perspective. We ought to seek earnestly the ability to see others as Christ sees them. And so when I find myself devaluing or looking past others I will diligently pray for them and for the eyes of Christ until...

I see you.