You Belong (and Her Too)
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” —1 CORINTHIANS 12:21-27 (NIV)
is a season marked by giving. In fact, the tradition of gift-giving has its roots in begging. Up until the 12th century, Advent was the time when the marginalized and the poor were free to go door-todoor to beg for food, treats, or money. But around the year 1100, a group of nuns started to put little gifts in the shoes of children, telling them these presents were from Saint Nicholas. Thus began the tradition of Santa Claus.
At Christmas especially, we try to be extra generous and kind. But it’s hard, isn’t it? Especially when we have divisions and old fights and rules about what to say or not to say at the dinner table (and we all have the uncle who breaks some VERY CLEAR RULES about not describing things he reads on Facebook). But cue the angels, singing out their joy at the good news of Jesus’ birth and “great joy which will be to all people” (Luke 2:10, NKJV, emphasis mine). All people—even those who we’d prefer to leave on our naughty list.
I suppose that’s where the Apostle Paul’s imaginary conversation in 1 Corinthians 12 comes in. He describes how the various parts of the body need each other. The eye can’t walk, nor can the foot see. In the same way, every human has something irreplaceable to offer one another, a special role in the body of Christ. We belong to God, and to one another. For in every person, we find the image of God. May we have hearts open to give and receive this Christmas (even if we are feeling a little Scrooge-like ourselves).
REFLECT
1. 1 Corinthians 12:16 says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (NIV). Every member of the body of Christ is worthy of protection and care. How has someone offered you dignity and care?
2. We all lose our patience. Think of an interaction that still remains strong in your memory because of the way you handled it. What mixed emotions are you remembering? Was this your best self, or is there some part you wish you had handled differently?
RESPOND
The culture of self-help and independence often tries to teach us that we don’t need anybody else—which is simply not true. How can you practice the opposite—community- help and interdependence—this week?
A Blessing for Learning to Belong
Come closer, and let me tell you what God said, because it changed everything.
It’s an identity, a home address.
And God wrote it on my heart so I’d never forget: “You belong.”
It’s not just that I am accepted, (for the tolerant will stretch to that—on a good day).
No. I am needed and wanted. And so are you.
Why? Because of everything we are, right now.
Each one of us is just the right shape and size and color, the exact flavor that was missing before we showed up.
Different as you are, different as I am, we belong.
So now I have to tell myself, don’t hold back.
Bring it, most generously, your whole actual self, as truly as you know how.
God has something beautiful in mind that includes us all.
So come and risk it, enter into the restoration that is on the way, the Advent of belonging.
GOING DEEPER
Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute of NBC’s The Office) says that we need a spiritual revolution. Kate and Rainn talk about this idea of belonging as a way of countering the culture of self-help. Watch this clip (9 minutes) to learn more about how our human nature longs to be part of something bigger.