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Archive for the ‘Committment’ Category

Song of Solomon

[His call] “I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse … Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.” [Her response] “I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?” [but later] I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.” — Song of Solomon 5:1-3, 6

Some see the Biblical “Song of Solomon” as nothing more than ancient poetry but within its pages there is an important lesson — no relationship remains static, it either grows or quietly wains.

Whether with Christ or each other, within a church or secular organization, relationships are quietly built or diminished with personal responsiveness or its lack.

Seth Godin, motivational speaker and blogger, puts it this way

“Most partnerships don’t end up in court.

Most friendships don’t end in a fight.

Most customers don’t leave in a huff.

Instead, when one party feels underappreciated, or perhaps taken advantage of, she stops showing up as often. Stops investing. Begins to move on …

Just because there are no firestorms on the porch doesn’t mean you’re doing okay. More likely, there are relationships out there that need more investment, quiet customers who are unhappy but not making a big deal out of it. They’re worth a lot more than the angry ones.” — Read Seth Godin’s complete post here

It takes alertness to the subtle change and a reaching out.

— fritz@langgang.com
See related post: “Jesus Passing By” – May 21, 2011

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Eugene Peterson, Presbyterian pastor and author of “The Message Bible”, writes of his desire for the perfect congregation — one where the people are holy, alert, responsive to God’s word and experiencing glorious revival.

He decided that kind of place doesn’t exist, and he has a term for keeping that kind of image in our minds:

“Parish glamorization is ecclesiastical pornography — taking photographs (skillfully airbrushed) or drawing pictures of congregations that are without spot or wrinkle, the shapes that a few parishes have for a few short years.

These provocatively posed pictures are devoid of personal relationships…

Ordinary congregations are God’s choice for the form the church takes in locale, and pastors are the persons assigned to them for ministry.” – Eugene Peterson, Under the Unpredictable Plant, page 22

God uses real people and real relationships, not airbrushed images, to grow us and his kingdom.

– fritz@langgang.com

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Fr. Desmond Gooneskera

“Weak people are defined by their circumstances, strong people are defined by their commitments”

– Reverend Desmond Gooneskera
(Sunday May 30, 2011 St. Cuthbert Episcopal Church)

– fritz@langgang.com

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