Thin Places
Mike Cope recently wrote about Randy Harris' referral to spiritually 'thin places' - places where it seems the spiritual realm almost touches, and in some cases, overlaps with the physical realm that sometimes blinds us to the realities of God.
Several people discussed places in nature, worship experiences, or precious memories they might have of where God's presence was more fully revealed to them. I have some of those experiences and memories as well.
Sometimes I'm hoping to have an experience like that in a worship service or a conferenece or a retreat, but it doesn't happen. I arrive with eager expectations, and for some reason I'm distracted, or not quite fully engaged, or have things in my life that keep me from having that coveted worship high.
You know what I'm talking about here.
Let me present another thin place that I have in my life:
When I go to serve lunch to the folks at Stewpot I find it is a thin place. Lives are raw. People are hurting. And, so quite naturally, the healing spirit of the Lord is blatantly evident.
I think the reason I so easily and consistently experience the presence of God is because I go not expecting it. I go expecting to share a smile and some food with the alien, the orphan, the poor, the widow, the ill, and the social outcast. Without fail, I come away moved by their faith. It's easy to come away thankful for the ways God has blessed me, but I find I come away with an admiration for these people's faith.
Some days during the lunch we have plenty of volunteers to serve the food and I sneak into the chapel service to worship with the homeless of Jackson. I try to encourage Brother Don, the worship leader there. I think the people there appreciate having me, a church leader, of one of the area churches there - but the truth is, they are more a blessing to me than I am to them. Their faith is clear. They strive to build community through sharing the love of God. They struggle with so many things but they recognize the sovereignty of God and want to live within His Kingdom. Don leads songs and prayers that most of the folks are familiar with from VBS when they were kids, or hymns like Amazing Grace. They cling to passages like Psalm 23 and Romans 8. In the middle of this worship of God the Almighty, I catch a glimpse of their lives - so different from my own - and in that glimpse I catch a glimpse of Kingdom life. I see the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, and those who hunger for righteousness.
It seems to me that this place is where the Kingdom is the most transparent.
Several people discussed places in nature, worship experiences, or precious memories they might have of where God's presence was more fully revealed to them. I have some of those experiences and memories as well.
Sometimes I'm hoping to have an experience like that in a worship service or a conferenece or a retreat, but it doesn't happen. I arrive with eager expectations, and for some reason I'm distracted, or not quite fully engaged, or have things in my life that keep me from having that coveted worship high.
You know what I'm talking about here.
Let me present another thin place that I have in my life:
When I go to serve lunch to the folks at Stewpot I find it is a thin place. Lives are raw. People are hurting. And, so quite naturally, the healing spirit of the Lord is blatantly evident.
I think the reason I so easily and consistently experience the presence of God is because I go not expecting it. I go expecting to share a smile and some food with the alien, the orphan, the poor, the widow, the ill, and the social outcast. Without fail, I come away moved by their faith. It's easy to come away thankful for the ways God has blessed me, but I find I come away with an admiration for these people's faith.
Some days during the lunch we have plenty of volunteers to serve the food and I sneak into the chapel service to worship with the homeless of Jackson. I try to encourage Brother Don, the worship leader there. I think the people there appreciate having me, a church leader, of one of the area churches there - but the truth is, they are more a blessing to me than I am to them. Their faith is clear. They strive to build community through sharing the love of God. They struggle with so many things but they recognize the sovereignty of God and want to live within His Kingdom. Don leads songs and prayers that most of the folks are familiar with from VBS when they were kids, or hymns like Amazing Grace. They cling to passages like Psalm 23 and Romans 8. In the middle of this worship of God the Almighty, I catch a glimpse of their lives - so different from my own - and in that glimpse I catch a glimpse of Kingdom life. I see the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, and those who hunger for righteousness.
It seems to me that this place is where the Kingdom is the most transparent.
posted by Eric Livingston at
9/21/2007
1 Comments:
Hey Eric,
Glad to see you are blogging again, I had not checked in awhile so it was a pleasant surprise this morning. I am commenting on the wrong post but Miss Jaylie is so beautiful! All the kids are so big (How did that happen?) Come visit us when you guys get the chance. Blessings from SA
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