Technical Difficulties – One
The New Year is here and it is a time that we tend to commit to doing something different over the New Year. It is a time of year that inspires me to reflect on what I have been doing in the past and what I want to do in the future. This has led me to really examine what I would call my own “Technical Difficulties”. I think that these “Technical Difficulties” I plan to mention this year, are probably shared by many Christians.
Technical Difficulty number one, what do I do when someone stops coming to church? I don’t think in the past that I have ever called on someone that stopped coming to Church. In fact, when I remember that I have not seen so and so for some time it is just a passing thought. I do not go by their house, I do not call, I do not text or email them, I shrug it off and go on my way. I have reasons, like I respect their privacy, don’t want to nag them, don’t want to appear nosey, too busy, feels awkward, I don’t know them that well, or never really liked them anyways.
I am guilty of every one of these excuses. As a result of this, I am asking myself why not pursue them? Why not let them see that you care regardless of what they or anyone else thinks? Why not show them that you care for a stranger, an acquaintance, a neighbor, why not show them the love we all desire, but so rarely give? If I am a Christian then I ought to be doing so, right? Is it not way past time for all of us (myself included) as members of the body of Christ to start to identify our “technical difficulties” and turn to the Lord that we might be made to love more like Him? 1 John 4:7 states, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.”
Don’t let “technical difficulties” stop you from reaching out in love to a stranger, to an acquaintance, an estranged family member, a friend, an acquaintance, someone you used to see in church or even someone from work. Know that it is ok to be different, ok to be strange, and fine to be downright weird. God called us to stand apart, to stand out from the world, not to wallow in our “technical difficulties”. So that means we need to acknowledge that we have “technical difficulties” even as Christians, but we can correct them by relying on the Lord. The best way to do this is ask God to change your heart and inspire the love of Christ in you. Then go and reach out to someone when it is difficult and uncomfortable. Let us both try it this year, we may end up being a blessing to someone, we will not know until we try, and we might find that we really enjoy being different.
Peace and Love in Christ,
Phillip Allen