On Cubicles and Community

As she settled her body into the seat next to me after a long night's work, my sweet wife seemed a little tired- Check that- She was whooped! On this particular morning Julie needed a ride- Her car was in the shop. "How was your night?" I asked as we pulled out of the parking lot to head to the house. "I was in Triage" she answered wearily, "I saw 13 patients last night". "Is that a lot?" I asked. "Oh yeah" she answered with one of her classic eye rolls- "We only have 6 beds." "So how does that work?" I asked- "Are they all in one room together?" "Well, yes and no Julie shot back- they are in one room, but seperated by cubicles"- and then she added these words,

"We can't let these people be exposed to each other."

Oh how those words hit me- Only moments before I had heard a song on the radio- The lyric that started the song went like this-

"So you thought you had to keep this up- all the work that you do so we think that you're good"

In my mind- right then and there- Triage became the living image for the religious life so many of us are caught up in- a life that is not life- certainly not the Life Jesus had in mind in His Sacrifice for us.

We are all in one room together- Triage if you will. We are hurting, but there is a Nurse or a Doctor there to help- no more than that- To heal.

While it's difficult, we will let the Doctor or Nurse help- but we have put up these walls that keep others from seeing us- these cubicles we exist in- We can't let ourselves be exposed- We must keep to ourselves- We must hide- It would just be too embarassing if others really knew how broken we are.

It takes oh so much work to keep those walls up- It's exhausting.

Oh, and we can't forget our enemy- the evil one- the one who makes a living off isolation, secrecy and deceit. He is right there- shaming us at every turn.

I do not think it is possible to live the Life Christ has in mind for us outside of Community.

James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

John 17:20-26 (Excerpts) Jesus prayed- "I pray that all of them may be one, Father just as I am in You and You are in me- may they also be in Us.......... Father, I will continue to make You Known so that Your Love will be in them and I Myself may be in them."

Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit- Three in One- Triune God- Just as You Live in Community fully knowing and being fully known within the 3 persons of the Godhead- Lord Give us -me- people I can connect with in honesty- in Humility- Work in and through our relationships to encourage and strengthen one another in You. Give me the Courage I need to make it safe for those You bring my way- safe for them to be real- to be authentic. Lord, give us all friends- real friends- to share the Life You have created us for.

Amen