Made for Relationships
From first grade through high school graduation I lived in the NYC suburbs about 1,000 miles away from any extended family. My cousins and I were spread out all over the eastern part of the U.S. and growing up in different cultures and communities.
Once a year, at Thanksgiving each family unit made a long road trip to a central location to gather for the weekend and reconnect.
I remember vividly our different accents. My brother and I often referred to the group of cousins as “You guys” while our deep-south family always spoke of “Y’all”. We dressed differently, ate different foods, followed different sports teams, and had very different school and church experiences. Communication was sometimes challenging and required good humor. Nonetheless, we united to tell jokes, dance and offer our musical gifts for the annual family talent show.
I recall the adults lingering at the Thanksgiving table discussing their differing politics and theology. These conversations were often quite animated, but Love held it all as we thanked God for our sense of belonging to the Williams family. We were different from one another, that was clear. And yet, we were related.
In my adulthood I’ve often thought of these family gatherings as I approach the Lord’s Table for The Great Thanksgiving. Each of us, from youngest to oldest comes with our own private spiritual experience of God, our life journey and perspective, and our identity as Christ’s own. And yet, we find that we belong to each other, brothers and sisters in Christ. In our differences, we share in a relationship with God and each other that connects us.
Relationship is the “R” in our SPIRIT acronym which represents what we know is key to the spiritual nurturing of children.*
From birth we are born with a capacity for relationships. This relational consciousness is part of being human. Our whole lives we grow in our relationship with ourselves, others and God. These are not separate relationships, but rather, they are interdependent.
Whether we are a parent or not, as part of a family of faith at Good Shepherd, we are in relationship with children. Over the past decade, studies have shown that when children form relationships with at least 5 different adults of faith, they are more likely to continue in their faith practice when they become adults.** Intergenerational friendships of mutual care and interaction are powerful and church is one of the few places where we have this opportunity to cultivate such relationships.
To be in relationship with children is to experience the Kingdom of God. How will you intentionally notice and befriend a child or volunteer with children in new ways? They need us and we need them.
With wonder,
Cynthia
