|
|
Tom Bandy of Easum, Bandy, and Associates (easumbandy.com) writes and speaks about understanding our sense of God's mission for each of us. Part of knowing that mission comes from being able to answer for ourselves this vital question: What it is about my experience of Jesus that world cannot live without? It is not a "head thing" like I believe Jesus is a nice guy or great teacher or even an amazing ethicist. It revolves around coming to know the experience of Jesus that has so changed our lives we cannot live without proclaiming that news with every word, action, and thought. It is that piece of our experience that makes us get up every morning and drives us to live on the edge for Jesus. It is as important as breathing. At Saint James we make it a practice to ask the question, "What is it about your experience of Jesus that the world cannot live without?" We invite people to the faith journey of answering that question autobiographically, through the lens of everything they have experienced of Jesus. We ask it in worship, we ask it in small groups, we ask it in spiritual mentoring/coaching. We expect our leaders to be able to answer this question because we believe it shapes ministry. We encourage others to make answering this question part of their spiritual journey. We are including below some of the answers from people in our faith community. Perhaps in their answers you can begin to glimpse a bit of what your answer might be. Many of us spent months praying and thinking about our answers while others knew immediately how to respond. There are any number of ways to answer this question. One person said that they had come to know a hope for the future they had never known before through Jesus. Another said that there is a joy they have found deep inside that does not go away even when things are going badly. Yet another pointed to the sacrifice of Jesus and noted that they could not help but respond to that sacrifice themselves. In the end, answering the question is not about copying someone else's answer though pieces of our answers may come through hearing the stories of others' experience of Jesus. It is looking at our lives, at our experience of how Jesus has given us new life, of how that life he has given is infectious, and seeing in our own story the truth of what Jesus has given us. And answering the question is another step in the journey, not its goal. Knowing the answer to the question is only the beginning of bringing that sense of purpose to bear on all that we do and are. How would you answer the question? Take your time. Search your heart, your journal, your prayer life. Listen to the Bible speak in your heart and seek out others who can help you reflect on the answer. But don't stop there... let your answer live in you and become the shaper of your daily living. |
|
Saint James United Methodist Church
|