FAMILIES SHARING HOPE
  • Blog
  • Resource Links
  • Books
    • News to Make You Weep
  • Prayer Requests
  • Contact
  • Connecting with Community

Theology From the Starship Enteprise

10/1/2014

0 Comments

 
Even when I was a kid watching the iconic TV show Star Trek I noticed that it was essentially a morality play as is all enduring literature. Some was helpful and some actually encouraged me on a less than healthy path.

In one episode a superior race of beings allowed Captain Kirk to be horribly injured just to see if a woman from another planet "had what it takes" to be an impath, or someone who could take on the suffering of another and heal on behalf of another. Now, for someone with a strong inclination to codependency, this was an unfortunate message. To this day I tend to pick up other people's energy (positive or negative) in less than helpful ways, so I have to be very intentional about who I hang out with.

But the Bible says to "bear with one another" so learning how to do this in healthy ways has been important to me. The Aramaic Bible in Plain English reads this way: Because of this, you shall accept and bear with one another, just as also The Messiah has accepted you for the glory of God.* 

It seems to me says that like God, I ought accept the person without endorsing all their behaviors. It does not say that I should shoulder all the responsibilities of getting the person on track, but rather to be as gentle with them as God has been to me, persistently calling me to a closer relationship without turning me into a cyborg acting under compulsion rather than by choice. 

Watching a child or parent struggle has always been a heart-breaker for me. But as I have learned to be more careful and thoughtful about how I might offer help, I have come to appreciate the value of struggling with encouragement. And it has given me a new way of understanding God's patience with me.  If I had to deal with me, I'd be tempted to clock me with a Nerf bat on a pretty regular basis.

But God just loves and woos and encourages and calls and sends folks to teach me and love me and encourage me. So maybe that is what God expects of me regarding "bearing with one another."




* Romans 15:7
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    CHECK IT OUT:
    BOOKS TAB 
    ​News Tab


    For information on meetings use the "contact" button above or call Jann @ 816-896-9815


    Author

    Jann's son was incarcerated.  She longed for a community where she could connect with others dealing with similar issues.

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    January 2023
    April 2022
    March 2022
    July 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.