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By Kelly Humphreys | posted 08/20/2009
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10)
"Serve one another in love." (Galatians 5:13)
This summer my husband Doug and I were thrilled to accept a call for him to pastor Creekside. We both agreed he would go ahead of me, driving up from Southern California with our oldest daughter Alison - finding a place for us and starting his new position, while I stayed behind with our other two kids (and dogs), rented the house, packed for the movers, and got ready for the new renters. Piece of cake, right?
Actually, I do think it was a good decision but I could have handled it better. I did a good job, but one thing I didn’t do perfectly was to rely on the "one anothers." I had a lot of help - especially with packing - but not as much as I needed because I didn’t ask.
It made me start thinking of how much I need - and we all need - community. We can’t be Lone Rangers out there, as much as we have a tendency to be. I grew up with a strong, independent mother and learned how to be one. When she did have to rely on someone else’s help, she didn’t like it. I too am much more comfortable being the giver instead of the "givee."
I love the fact that God Himself is a community. The Bible starts out, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," and the word for God in this verse is Elohim, which is plural. God is one, and three-in-one, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And They/He live in perfect unity, perfect Oneness.
I was challenged by Doug’s sermon last Sunday about how we are vessels to be poured out. I want to get out of my comfort/busy zone and be poured out by God for others. I started thinking about Tent City, the place for the homeless that relocates periodically, and how our church wants to be involved in fulfilling needs and making friends there. I want to be a part of that. I also want to be attuned to the needs of our own church community, praying for them and helping them as God shows me. And the thing about being poured out - God always fills us right back up. To be used by God in this way is a thrilling thing.
I also want to allow God to fulfill my own needs. He is a creative God who wants us to be humble enough to let Him. I had two large tasks for the old house right after the movers left - painting and cleaning. The painting was done right. A few weeks before, Doug asked four of his close buddies to come and paint for a day, with Curt to spearhead the whole project. So the day after the movers came, we had those four guys, my two teenagers and two of their friends, and I all painting in different rooms. It felt like a barn-raising! Whatever wasn’t done was finished the next day, with Curt especially giving up lots of time and effort. I was so impressed with their giving (and the finished work as well).
I needed to do that for the next two days for the (deep) cleaning, to get this large house ready for the renters, but I didn’t. I was glad to have Alison - who flew back - for two days, as well as her friend for a while. I should have gotten four of my buddies and made quick work of it. I think I didn’t because I underestimated the project, but mainly because I didn’t want to put anyone out. Hindsight being 20-20, though, it would have been fun for all of us to be there as a part of a team, a community, something we are all doing together, instead of a stressed-out, too-big project. I have great, generous friends but I didn’t even give them the opportunity to be used by God in this way.
Lesson learned. I am excited about being here in Creekside, and seeing what God is going to do in our community, in us and through us to others. Let us open our eyes and see the needs around us, and let God pour out His love through us. The adventure continues.
Kelly can be reached via email.
