Evotional | August 1

[vc_single_image image=”15531″ img_size=”1100×400″][special_heading title=”Evotional – August 1, 2018″ subtitle=”by Tim Mooney” separator=”yes”]

The Word in Scripture

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ…Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.  I Corinthians 12:12, 27.

Reflection

On Sunday July 29, “Neighboring Sunday”, my group walked to Civic Center Park.  We picked up trash, handed out water bottles, and engaged with the people we met along the way.  To our surprise, there were quite a number of people in the park!  Individuals, yes, sitting by themselves or walking alone, but we were struck by the number of people gathered in groups of three or four, and there were several families, too.

Later in the day, I received an email from Betsy Clark one of our group members.  This is what she wrote: “We really enjoyed the experience this morning.  I was just reflecting and thought it was interesting that all those people were in the park, perhaps seeking community, connection, relief…human interaction – just as many of us at Central come together for those same reasons.  Some were literally there to be nourished, but many were not.”

Yes, some come to the park for food, handouts, what-have-you – literal nourishment.  But Betsy’s insight invites us to notice they were seeking what we all yearn for – that deep sense of spiritual connectedness, to know we are a part of a larger reality of grace and love, and we each have gifts to share with one another, and because of those gifts, we need each other.  Civic Center Park was their church.  The kindness and connection we received as we walked, was a reminder of the reality of the Body of Christ, who we already and always are by our simply being fellow human beings.

I wonder what it would look like if you and I believed deeply that the connection with others was already and always there, just waiting to be evoked, recognized, welcomed, and vulnerably embraced.  If we assume there is little or no connection with others, it then has to be built.  But if we assume it is there, then we can look for it, anticipate it, find it, and celebrate it.

Prayer

Holy One, open our eyes and hearts that we might see, feel, and celebrate the oneness of your body, the deep connection that we have with others in Christ.  Amen.

Intention

This week, try assuming that you’re already deeply connected with the people you encounter as you go through each day.  What do you find?  How does this outlook change your expectations, your attitude, your life?