Mandy of Messy Canvas shared this statement on Facebook about a month ago. After reading the conversation in the comments section and because of my own personal experiences, the words resonated deep within me, and I have not been able to stop thinking about them.
It reminds me of a season in my life that found me starving for authentic relationships. I was frustrated with the people around me who were unwilling to meet me where I was at. If I wanted to have any type of friendship, it was going to have to be an at-church-only kind of relationship. They were not willing to meet me for coffee to share our hearts, or to talk about what God was doing in our lives. If I wanted to see them, I had to go to a church meeting (they had meetings every night of the week). Then, of coarse, there was an agenda for that meeting. Agenda is good, and there should be an agenda at church. However, I desperately wanted someone to be my friend outside of that. In that time, I wanted to see people. I wanted to share my humanity with another humans and relate with each other in those struggles. I didn’t want to go to church again and again to hear another salvation message. I didn’t want to see “their Jesus” – I wanted to see them, to get to know them, & to have a genuine friendship. This quote reminds me of the importance of meeting people where they are at. Coming to them as another human who also struggles and wrestles with God and be willing to walk along side of them.
In reflecting on this FB status I wonder, why as an artists, is it so difficult to find meaningful connection in the church?
artbycarriejoy.com 