Love is Messy
Posted on Jul 26, 2017 by
Dear Salem Family,
Community is messy. Being in relationship with people is messy. Loving others is messy. If I’ve learned anything from my therapeutic background, and my many jobs of working with people, is that we are messy beings. There isn’t a stock way of dealing with people. We need to get to know people and seek to understand others as we interact with them. There is a clear correlation between how we treat each other and how a watching world will feel about Jesus. We are not perfect beings and we will always have work to do, but some of the best parts of my day are when I see love. God’s calling card is love, and if people don’t recognize God is good by watching His people, then we have definitely derailed.
You can see love in all types of ways. You can see love in service to one another. You can see love in an argument and how it’s handled. You can see love in just a smile from one person to another. You can see love when we don’t agree and the ability to be in relationship with someone else even when you don’t see eye to eye.
As I think about this mess, I’m reminded of Colossians 3:12-15, “12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
I believe we are all capable of this, it’s just hard. This way God calls us to be as His children is hard. But, in my opinion, it is so worth it. I see His love in others all the time. It’s amazing to see and it’s also amazing to feel. I saw it this weekend in those that served at MLM and Children’s Memorial. I saw it in the high schoolers that worked with different organizations and schools in a rough part of St. Louis. I saw it on Sunday in our ability to have discussions about budget and building as a community.
Above all, we are called to love. How will you be God’s love this week?
In Christ’s love,
Meghan Harmison
Director of Adult Ministries and Outreach