I am a mother of four very different children! But…despite all their differences…they share ONE THING IN COMMON. NO CHILD in the Boyer house wants to sleep alone in their bed!
Somehow, every child of mine has found a way (in the middle of the night) to sneak out of their bed, slink down the hall and slowly open our bedroom door with one goal in mind: the BIG bed. The bed with the sleeping parents.
BONUS APP INFO: When I was little, I had a horrible problem with sleepwalking. One time my mom found me playing the organ (not well!) in my sleep. Another time, I was watching “white fuzz” on the TV. Creepy, huh?!
Children don’t want to be alone when they wake up and the night is dark. But after many wake-up calls, I finally landed on a secret formula for the middle of the night freak outs that has worked for us. It begins with a five-words which I have tested on each of our children: I. Will. Check. On. You.
(BONUS APP INFO: Our son Eli once hid a piece of pizza in his bed for three days.)
Now…the words are paired with a precise series of actions PURPOSED to woo them into a restful state with predictable, relentless compassion.
It might take a few minutes the first time, but the next time it doesn’t take as long…because they know I WILL check on them and they rest in that assurance.
Isn’t this what we ALL want? Don’t we want to know someone will check on us in the dark night?
So many of us live our lives with deep loneliness, chronic anxiety and suffocating depression…day after day, we are living through a dark night. Our very souls can be characterized by The Broken Place of Isolation. We all want to know SOMEONE will check on us.
This is what Jesus wanted in his darkest hour.
Mark 14:32-42 NIV
So what can we learn from this passage concerning Jesus’ spiritual community?
Let’s start with the setting: The olive grove in Gethsemane. Jesus and his disciples went to this place often. (recorded in John)
Jesus had history with those in his spiritual community. They lived life together.
So what can we learn from Jesus model of relationships?
1. Being part of a healthy spiritual community means living life together.
So what else does Jesus’ model for us during his dark night?
Jesus articulated his feelings and his needs to his spiritual community.
Our spiritual community will not always instinctively know how we are feeling. We need to tell them. And then sometimes, in addition to telling them how we feel, we need to also tell them what we need them to do.
2. Being part of a healthy spiritual community means articulating your feelings and needs.
Jesus realized his spiritual community had limitations.
THREE times Jesus came to them. Three times they failed to provide him the support he needed.
3. Being part of a healthy spiritual community means handling disappointment with honesty and grace.
Our spiritual community will disappoint us at times. They have limitations. But this should not prevent us from working through the disappointment together.
Through it all, Jesus LOVED his spiritual community.
After the disciples fell asleep during Jesus’ turmoil in the garden, after they ran and hid during his trial, after being denied before his death and doubted after his resurrection, Jesus never stopped loving his spiritual community.
“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” John 13
John 17:11 -- “Now I am departing from the world, but they are staying in the world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name, now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.”
Do you realize what this means?
4. Being part of a healthy spiritual community means we are protected and unified by the POWER OF THE NAME OF GOD
Jesus modeled for us what spiritual community is all about. Jesus showed us how to love each other.
The good life is one of rich, meaningful relationships. But to have rich, meaningful relationships you have to build them.
How do we seek out spiritual community in our own lives?
- Worship with your community
- Pray with your spiritual community:
o Attend the Prayer Gatherings. (LINK?)
o Utilize our prayer team after service.
o Ask those you know within your spiritual community to pray for you.
- Get involved with your spiritual community
o Build relationships by getting involved. Serve with Team (LINK?) Join a Group (LINK?).
(BONUS APP INFO: Did you know we have brand new interest groups coming soon for young adults ages 18-early 30s? Check out more info here: LINK)
- Practice Hospitality: Open your home to others. Begin making your home a place of peace, rest and warmth for someone else.
- Disciple someone or Be Discipled by someone in The Way of Discipleship
o LINK to WOD page
(BONUS APP INFO: I am discipling three amazing young women – Jenn, Jess and Emily. They are GIFTS in my life.)
Some of you don’t know who you would call out to if you suddenly found yourself in the middle of a dark night. Some of you are currently experiencing a dark night and you feel alone in your struggle and wish more than anything that someone would check on you…that someone would woo you into a more restful state with predictable, relentless compassion.
The good life is one of rich, meaningful relationships. But to have rich, meaningful relationships you have to build them.