Date: January 30th 2012

REFLECTIONS BY THE POND
January 30, 2012


Faces

Odd, the process of strangers becoming familiar acquaintances,
then, perhaps later, becoming friends. One steps into a roomful
of strangers for the first time; each face is a mask representing
an unknown: no background, no common history, no point of
reference. Just a face, perhaps a voice and a handshake. A
greeting is proffered, but is it real? Does it give voice to
genuine interest, or is it just another perfunctory recitation?

Who are these people? What do they believe, what do they stand
for? What are their names, and to whom do they belong? What do
they do, how are they dressed during the other days of the week?
What are their lives like when they have removed their good
clothes, when they have removed their Sunday face?

The place itself is unfamiliar. Four walls without personality;
they speak little of what has transpired within their comfortable
but polished embrace. Has this been a place of joy, of triumphs?
Has it known the weeping of sorrow, the bile of anger and deceit?
Does worship occur here? Is there communion with the Lord, or
just each other? Even with the few clues of a first visit, one
leaves knowing little more than was known before.


A Common Bond

The disciple of Christ steps into this situation with an
advantage: Just about every person behind the anonymous faces is
already a brother or sister. For the believer, visiting a church
for the first time is a little like joining an in-progress family
reunion at which everyone shares his last name--but who are all
long-lost cousins heretofore unknown. The common bond is one not
of familiarity and affection, but of blood.

Christ's blood.

"The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that
they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me,
that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may
know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved
Me."
John 17:22-23

Like two strangers on a blind date, there is usually a bit of
bobbing and weaving to the introductions. We smile pleasantly, we
shake hands, but we hold back, wishing only to reveal small
portions of ourselves at a time. The veiled fa‡ade we present is
less outright deception than an act of self-protection. We carry
too many scars from those times we have too-quickly bared our
soul to another. So, over the ensuing weeks, we measure out dribs
and drabs of ourselves--our personality, our beliefs, what we
know and what we don't, our interests and disinterests, our
strengths and our weaknesses.


Shock to the System

Over that same time, however, our perception of the others begins
to change. Faces that were originally blank slates become
familiar, nuances of expression reveal themselves. Anonymous
voices take on new colors; words and phrasing become
identifiable, associated with individuals. Unique behavior
becomes not only noticeable, but anticipated: we can now foresee
an individual's response to a spoken word, an event, or the
behavior of others.

And soon, catching us by surprise one day, we realize that what
had been an amorphous, faceless mob is now a familial group of
distinct, colorful, rather interesting individuals. The
transformation is sufficiently remarkable that we wonder--perhaps
only for a dizzying moment--if on our behalf perhaps the people
have somehow undergone a transformation of personality. But no;
they have remained who they are throughout. What has changed is
our perception--and thus, our relationship to them.


Two Hearts are Better than One

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to
stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking
our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day
drawing near.
Hebrews 10:23-25

As one Sunday passes into another; as the sea of shapeless,
forgettable faces morphs into a community of distinctive
personalities; as we learn more, bit by bit, about these
individuals, and they learn more about us--as strangers become
brothers and sisters, we are reminded that a unity of like-minded
souls is something far more than the sum of its parts.

Within the family of the local congregation the Holy Spirit is
magnified beyond the numeric instances of His indwelling. The
ministry of the Spirit increases exponentially with every two
believers; one hundred Christians in a room infuse it with far
more Spirit than one times one hundred. He is pleased to envelop
and pervade to a greater degree everyone present when "two or
more are gathered." And it is in this way that corporate worship
is magnified so far beyond that of the solitary believer in his
closet.

Similarly, the work of solace, compassion, and support is
expanded when more than one are given the opportunity to practice
these very Christian acts. One holding up one other can be a
helpful, but lopsided support. But one on either side not only
can support, but straighten. And it is when even more are added
around the one in distress that the mercy of Christ can truly
take root and flower.

Two are better than one because they have a good return for
their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift
up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is
not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down
together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And
if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A
cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

In the family of God, the face--that unique configuration of eyes
and nose and mouth--is but a preliminary and fleeting mark of
identification. Soon we recognize one another no longer by that
which lies on the surface, but by that which dwells in the heart.
_____________________________

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne we pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our
cares.

We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
John Fawcett




____________________
Copyright 2012, David S. Lampel. All rights reserved.
Reflections: #0536
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is from the
New American Standard Bible (Updated Edition).
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