The Best Kinds of Relationships

Have you ever had one of those deep, authentic, wonderful relationships with someone where you feel like you can share anything and you won’t be judged?  You are both willing to share the deepest longings, hurts, and joys of life with each other and laugh, cry, cringe, and just listen.  I am blessed to say I have had a couple of those relationships but I feel like they have been very rare.  But when I have experienced that sort of vulnerability with others, I have felt the love of Christ in a tangible and real way.  The willingness to be vulnerable with other people, to really share in an open and authentic way is a gift from God.  We are all broken and when we are willing to share this with each other and walk with each other in that brokenness, Christ heals us and brings us joy through our relationships.   In the CEB translation of today’s passage in 1 Corinthians, Paul writes, “I had made up my mind not to think about anything while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and to preach him as crucified. I stood in front of you with weakness, fear, and a lot of shaking.  My message and my preaching weren’t presented with convincing wise words but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power.  I did this so that your faith might not depend on the wisdom of people but on the power of God.”  Paul wasn’t preoccupied with being or looking perfect or all put together, he wanted to share the good news in a real and authentic way and the early church continued to grow and grow.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• Are you willing to share the joyful and rough stuff of life with others in your life?  What do you think would happen if you did?
• How can we be more vulnerable with one another in our church?  Do you think we are called to share openly and vulnerably with each other?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• What is the most joyful part of your day/week/year? 
• What is the most difficult part of your day/week/year?

PRAYER
Loving God, help me to be more vulnerable and open with others that they may know they are not alone and they may experience the tangible love and presence of Christ.  Amen.