Day 16 - People Need People

 "For God so loved the world

that He gave...!"

John 3:16

Today I have been trying to focus on feeling better, before I have to return to my office that is located across the house in the front bedroom.  Working from home has its advantages and disadvantages.  I am counting the days until Friday when I can leave it behind for a few days and hopefully gain a fresh perspective on my life.

This afternoon I have been writing letters to two Compassion International children my church sponsors, as well as sending cards.  I am a bit old-fashioned in that way.  I have always been better at expressing myself in writing than face to face or over the phone.  Perhaps it's because paper can't talk back, well, at least not right away.  I feel it is has a personal touch.  I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy getting mail, whether it is snail mail, email, or a text.  When someone writes to you, doesn't it make you feel special?  Like you're worth their time?

One of my greatest disappointments is not having the time, or taking the time, to do things I really want to do, like visit the sick, take a hike with a friend, or just call someone.  Here in New Mexico where I live and in the surrounding little areas there are many churches. Each one is involved in their little corner of the woods, but the churches don't seem to get together or do things together.  I wonder at times if the pastors even know each other.  Each one seems isolated from the other, or so it appears to me.  But it doesn't stop there.  Within the churches there are the few who are at every service, every meeting, any event sponsored by that church.  With that church are cliques, those who are the chosen few, so to speak.  Sad thing is within the cliques, there isn't true intimacy, friendship, knowing each other.  Every one is encouraged to be strong, and if you show weakness, too much humanity, you can be looked upon as unholy.  So no one really says how they truly feel.  The inner struggles are hidden so as not to appear weak or lacking faith, until it ends in a person leaving the church before they are found out, or even worst, ending their life.  Inner struggle is very real and can be devastating.

I'm really proud of the little church I attend. We have so few people, but they seem to care about each other.  Not only that, but we are trying to reach out to people who need help.  It has been slow, but it is finally beginning to take root and grow.  And that is exciting.  People really do need people, as the Barbra Streisand song goes.  Children need to feel safe, loved, valued and taught how to live in this world.  Our seniors need to feel that they have stories to share or a part to play in the church, in life.  To contribute and feel appreciated, needed.  Everyone needs love and acceptance.  Isn't that why Jesus came in the first place?