Life Lesson
Whenever I experience a big change in life I learn a lot about myself. Living in Richmond is giving me lots of opportunities to learn more about myself, some good, some bad. Let me share a not-so-great thing I am learning about myself.
I’m realizing that I don’t have a clue on what it takes to share life with others, especially with other Christians. With a group of people, how do you get to the point where everyone feels comfortable sharing their physical (daily), emotional, and spiritual lives with each other? How do I let myself open up and share? I don’t want it to be a forced, difficult labor. Can’t it happen naturally? I know that is has happened naturally for me in the past. The process is even more complicated for me in Christian groups because we try to share a spiritual life before the daily and emotional lives are comfortably shared, before friendships are developed.
Here we are in Richmond, meeting new people. We’ve met some great people and are trying to develop friendships with them. Most of the people that we have met are Christians who we met at a couple of churches being started. We see these new friends on a pretty regular basis at their gatherings. As to be expected, at their events people share their spiritual life and worship together. But, I am learning that I don’t know how to do that with people I barely know. Without emotional intimacy it feels fake to me because I won’t allow my spirt to participate in the worship. I won’t allow my lips to share my stories. I will let my ears hear the stories being told, but my mind is busy wondering what is wrong with me, why can’t I share in the experience? Dan can share. He jumps on in. Where I want to develop a friendship before sharing my spiritual life with others, Dan is the opposite, he is sharing his spiritual life in order to develop a friendship. His way does make sense, but for some reason I don’t work that way.
So, if you are part of one of the churches that Dan & I are becoming friends with, this is why I get quiet. It will probably take me a while to learn how to share my spiritual life with you.
No worries, Alicia! Have the space and take the time you need. It is not wrong with how you work. Adele
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the years that I’ve known and loved you, it’s that when you do share, it always speaks right to my core. It’s worth waiting for, and it’s transformational. Enjoy the journey, don’t rush. Be who you are wherever you are and whoever you’re with, that’s the you we love and love to be with.
Sounds like you girls need to start brable or tamponibility or whatever you guys are calling it.
Potluck on Wednesday maybe, you can start then?
what about wHinble…..we can drink wine while whining about our husbands.
Yeah, Alicia, I would listen to the very encouraging words that Adele and Mom have written. You have a beautiful personality. Don’t beat yourself up.
i am the same way, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. infact, i’m probably more likely to share about my personal life than my spiritual life with those i don’t know well. guess i’ve been burned so many times that i am always on guard.
i am so bummed that i missed game night this weekend and hope it went well. hopefully i will see you and dan soon.
Alicia, God formed you and made you the way you are for a reason. Fret not. Be yourself. No worries. I used to teach swimming, and some people could jump right in and get acclimated, while others took itty bitty tip-toes into the water grimacing the whole way in. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. Just keep coming in. Peace today.