Since we moved into our apartment, we have no longer had a garage. Yes, we were spoiled. All those years we had a garage to park the car in with a door we could automatically close.
We didn’t have to think about the weather except to be prepared for when we arrived at our destination. The car(s) stayed relatively clean and unspoiled by leaves that fell or winds that blew all manner of dust and pollen around.
Now, we have to go out in the weather to get to our cars. They sit, parked in the heat and cold, wind, dust…and pollen. They aren’t protected from the elements like they once were. stop
I often feel that same vulnerability when I start attending a new church, unsure of the people around me.
- Will I be welcomed?
- Will I find a place I can serve and feel useful?
- Will I fit in this new place?
- Or will it take a long time for me to find a place that will feel like home to me?
I’ve never heard a church compared to a garage, but there are some parallels for sure. I don’t even like to think of having church be a place I would park…as in settle in and live there.
I am meant to be in community with the people of GOD as we worship together... Share on XInstead, I think of it as a place to find and give support, to worship and be enriched and encouraged by all that goes on in a worship service, to be taught from GOD’s Word, and to experience community with GOD’s people…to name a few. Then, head back out in mission to a world around us that needs Jesus more than anything.
I’m not supposed to live the Christian life all alone. I’m not to be left out in the elements alone and unprotected even though that may happen at times. I am meant to be in community with the people of GOD as we worship together and grow in our knowledge of GOD and are invigorated by the gospel to reach out to the world around us.
Worship will cause us to be invigorated by the gospel to reach out to the world around us. Share on XMay GOD help us as we live out the gospel. We need our garages to grow and be replenished, but we can’t park forever in them!
Martha, what a great analogy! I agree. I don’t want our church to be a place where I settle in and get comfortable. If I’m comfortable, either I’m not serving, or I’m not letting God speak to the places in my heart He knows need changing.
But, yes, we do need community. We need the encouragement, support, and prayers of each other. We need people to speak the truth in love when we need to hear it. And we need to be able to do the same in turn.
Such a super post!
yes, it is quite a balancing act isn’t it jeanne? it is rarely neat and tidy either. i can think of many times GOD even used rather unkind ways that people spoke to me to get truth i needed to hear. i didn’t want to hear it and really didn’t want to hear it said the way they said it, but i had to realize that there was truth in what they said no matter how unkindly they said it. (ah! the joys of being a pastor’s wife!)
I don’t have a garage either. This analogy was a great reminder for me. I’m in the 38 spot this week.
glad you stopped by tara:) the analogy came to me as i was trying to make sense of my goofy story. it has lots of holes, but analogies don’t have to match on every detail fortunately:)
I love the analogy. I would have never thought of that about going to a new church but I can see it. Very cool points. thanks for stopping by my blog. : ) hope you are having a good weekend
glad you stopped by kristina:) sorry i didn’t answer sooner. i was caring for grands on the weekend and then got sick after i got home. now i’m getting back to normal.
All questions we’re asking as we start over….
i tho’t of you often during the week as i have the last few weeks of course christy. for you right now, healing is needed. it is likely to mean less official involvement in leading activities and even in rushing around to activities and more allowing GOD to heal you, often through a community of faith. as well as interaction with His word and prayer. that doesn’t mean there won’t be any ministry, but it may be less “official” than b/f.
Yes, for now we know we need rest and a place to be loved. I didn’t cry yesterday…first time in I don’t know how long. I got close once…
God is still using us to encourage others and that is good.
Yeah .. church should be more like the refueling station that the garage! I love getting refueled. If a service is missed I barely make it through the week.
i feel the same mandy. i have never understood the “sit and soak” mentality. but i understand how easy it is to get there…particularly when a person is low on energy or interest in being involved with others.
Loved the analogy you so gracefully drew, Martha.
But for the record, you don’t park cars in garages. You build aeroplanes in garages and in the rest of the house too. (When Barbara first visited my house she found a dismantled 70-year-old biplane in the garage, a wing being rebuilt in the living room, and another completed wing in my bedroom.)
haha:) i’ll keep that in mind andrew! i had no idea that is what garages are for. now that we live in an apt. i have learned how many things were stored in a garage! wow! i so miss that part of a garage.
Martha,
I totally agree. Going into a new church and having to start all over with relationships can be very scary!! But you are so right– We need each other and the community that we get from fellowship. It’s one of the biggest blessings ever to get to do life with so many others!!
Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Kaitlin
Visiting from Five Minute Friday #50
glad you came by kaitlin:)
This is a wonderful parallel and I never thought of it this way. Thank you for sharing today. I’m your neighbor (#46) at #fmfparty. Have a blessed weekend.
thanks for stopping by carolina:) nice to meet you.