I haven’t stopped thinking about community, thinking ever deeper about what it means to be the body of Christ. I’ve been turning this over in my head for a while, striking up conversation with (slightly- ’cause if you know me then you know what talking to me can be like) unexpecting people, blogging about it, digging into scripture, asking God to show me His truth… and repeat.

No really… and repeat.

Because here I am, blogging about it again. I thought I might, but then the day got away from me. I’ve had a bad headache, almost like I can’t think straight. But God is keeping this topic on the forefront of my mind, no matter how scattered my thoughts have been. So, yet again, I find myself typing a blog post pretty late on a Wednesday.

Why? Because while I thought I wouldn’t write today, this happened:

I went to leave camp this afternoon for a few errands and such. My eldest son was waiting for me outside and he was a little excited as he shared the story of walking outside to our van only to be surprised by a goose sitting on the camp road. The goose skedaddled down the road and sat near the edge of the field by the main entrance to camp.

Seeing geese here at camp isn’t usual. We have a few resident geese on the lake along with flocks en route south as autumn approaches. But I cannot recall ever seeing one alone much less up by the house.

Yet, here was a goose all by its lonesome. And it looked lost. As it walked it looked left, then right, left, and right again. I thought that goose was reevaluating some recent decisions and wondering how it ended up so far from friends/family and no where near the water. Then it started walking down Sandbank Road.

I was driving and asked my husband to take a picture of the goose for me. My eldest chimed in, “This going to end up on the blog. It is, isn’t it?” He knows me pretty well. I replied, “It just might.”

And here we are… I didn’t intend to but as I was trying to settle down with this headache still pounding I found myself thinking of that lone goose and googling why a goose might be alone. Reading on official nature pages, amateur opinions, college course material and the like when I found this:

A SENSE OF A GOOSE

Next fall when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in “V” formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance to trying to go it alone. And quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

What messages do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally – and this is important – when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the

fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

 

And just when I am filled with hope and yet overwhelmed by how far we as the church have to go…

Verse 16 speaks right to the heart of the matter: Christ makes the whole body fit perfectly together.

Tonight, that is my prayer, Christ be at work in us. Help us to submit to your leadership so that we may fulfill the role you have for us as your church, as your body. May we come to understand how to speak the truth in love. That we are not just resounding gongs or clanging symbols. Strengthen us to do the special work you planned in advance for each of us to do. Jesus make us your body, healthy, growing and full of love. 

For many years now I’ve been working with youth, at camp, through the ABY Convention, in Sunday School, assisting with Youth Group, speaking at events and raising my own children. My heart is grieved for them as I watch them struggling with the harsh realities of being a Christian teen in today’s world. I’ve heard their conflicted hearts as they try to discern how their faith addresses daily living. I’ve watched as some make the choice to walk away…

Church… our… yes, our youth need us to be the body Christ. We need to be there, together, to be there for them and allow them to be there for us. We are meant to be community.

When reading up on why this goose might have been all alone I came across this answer from another post where a woman had found a lone goose on her property:

 “You also might have a juvenile or first timer who just got lost.”

The hope for the goose was that another skein would fly over and pick him up. And I think of our teens, the pressure, struggles, and lies that they face. Friends we need to step up and be there for them: teach them of the beautiful, life-changing message of the gospel, share with them our testimonies of God at work in our lives, support their development as believers, offer them inroads to putting their God-given gifts and talents into practice in the body of Christ, and guidance when they stumble and fall away.

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2

This isn’t just about those who are “youth people” or those gifted in teaching. This is about being the body of Christ. “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

Is God calling you to step up in doing your part? Who has God placed in your life for you to help grow? Maybe it is an unexpected person or in an unexpected way.

How is all of this speaking to you? Share with me, send me a message, email or phone call. I’m interested in hearing how the Spirit is at work in your life!

~Jillene