Belonging… what you said about it!

Hello.

For many, it has touched a chord—for some, a nerve … a sort of wondering about their own belongingness.  ‘Find yourself at all curious about how and what others feel about belonging? 

Here are a few to consider:

From the Carolina’s - My place of belonging is anywhere that I’m with like-minded folks.  Not dependent on the external environment, but the hearts of those I’m around.  In essence, any situation that is in any way similar to my eternal place of belonging, Heaven, it feels close to home and thus I belong.   Phil 2:  “fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.”

From down yonder in Texas – Mine is my closest group of friends from high school/ college… the ones who have been through the ups and downs of my life, the relationships, were in my wedding 20 years ago, talked to me when I was fighting cancer, helped my wife through the ordeal, came to my father’s funeral… those who I’ve shared with, cried with, and know where I am, what I’m thinking without really needing to ask.

From the islands - The community of Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii is my place of belonging with a loving wife and the fellowship of believers we have in our family. It's simply awesome!

Aloha = Always Love Over Hate Always.  (Upon further questioning, he revealed that they cheered for him, were genuinely happy for him, and regularly ‘there’ for him) 

And from right here in Southern California - When I think of Belonging, I think about acceptance. Jesus accepts us wherever we are at. So in him, I belong. When I am aware of his presence, I feel accepted, loved, comforted, confident and free. It’s when I take the wheel that I am frustrated, fearful, intimidated and not at peace. So this question about where do I belong? I suppose I belong in a lot of places as a family member, friend, neighbor, and employee but true belonging for me is found anywhere alone or with a group of others, when I am in his presence and am aware of the Holy Spirit. There are different (few) times where I feel truly that I belong and I cherish those moments. When I come to the WoP (Women of Passion) meetings, I can’t explain it, all these amazing women (who go through the same things I do) who don’t know me and that I haven’t given to … I come in late, miss some of the meetings, leave early and they still accept me and I feel the love and acceptance… there in which I belongJ

And today at Women of Passion, one woman told our group that she has several places of ‘belonging’—one is a group of seven women who have met together regularly for more than three decades—to encourage one another, have lunch, and do life together.  Then she described another, but stopped and said, ‘all these groups center around Christ,’ and that’s what makes them so strong.

To which I say, ‘here, here!’  Yes, and amen.  I think of the early Christians who met together regularly for prayer, friendship, biblical teaching, and the sharing of meals.  When there was a practical need, they shared their means with one another.  Belongingness requires give and take, it requires participation; it is not enough just to have your name on the roster or e-mail list… friend, you will not feel a sense of belonging unless you contribute something and give of yourself.  Some days your participation may be just ‘showing up’, another day, you may lend ‘an ear’, still another day, you may have some keen insight to add to a discussion.  The psalmist said, ‘How good and how right it is when brothers come together in unity.’¹ And then, when you couple that with God’s presence, you have joy!  For as David also said, ‘In your presence is fullness of joy.’²

That is not to say that there is not community or a sense of belonging in secular-purpose groups … just that there is a certain value added component when you share in the goodness of God together, which extends into eternity.  (That is a good long time to BELONG)  Belonging matters … knowing people are genuinely glad to see you is sweet … having people ‘show up’ for you when you need a hand makes life easier, giving of yourself to others, and mutually experiencing the love of God makes life worth living.