I’ve been a bit distracted at work—more than usual. Over the last two weeks, all day long I’ve been mesmerized by the activity of the stone masons right outside my office window who spend the day stacking and securing rock to the soaring vertical face of our new space.
This team of skilled artisans, working in a coordinated flow, saw and chisel the appropriate stones for the pattern while on the ground, then load a pallet with rock before hoisting it to the scaffold level where they are working with the large yellow lift. It is almost hypnotic to watch their flow.
The crew has a clear goal of what they are doing and plans for how to get there. A host of people are using a variety of materials and are working together to build our future.
Sometimes, we don’t have such clarity as a church. Why are we here? What are we doing? How do we accomplish whatever it is we’re supposed to be doing? We remember that Jesus told us to “love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind and love our neighbors as ourselves” (Luke 10:27), but what does that look like here and now? We can recite our mission statement, which springs from “because God first loved us [we can] live, share, and celebrate with all people God’s love in Jesus Christ,” but what is the point?
Lord of Life received this generous and stunning review on Google this week that reminded me of our mission:
“[Lord of Life] church has done a lot for the recovery community. It's evident that they have kindness in their hearts and they have kept (possibly) the most valuable aspect in life – helping thy neighbor. It's a form of help that is not conditional. It's provided at ALL times... not ONLY when it's convenient for one’s schedule.
“So many people nowadays have lost this. How much better would the world be if we all contributed to "unity?" Or better yet, if we all exhibited self-sacrifice and unselfish constructive action to better help others. In my opinion, this is God at work…God bless.”
One of our mission priorities is to share our space with our neighbors. As part of that emphasis, we host three weekly recovery meetings where people find encouragement and skills to battle addiction and co-dependency through in-person and online groups. What a profound way to connect our lives of faith with the complex challenges beyond our campus. Of course we want to encourage those seeking restoration and wholeness.
As our new space takes shape, you may have noticed that the building literally is pointing to the risen Jesus Christ as well as away from our existing building and out into the community. This isn’t by accident but is an architectural choice to visually remind us that our mission—God’s mission—doesn’t reside on our property, but propels us upward and outward.
English novelist Mary Ann Evans, known by her pen name George Eliot, asked, “What do we live for if not to make the world less difficult for each other?” Indeed. That is how Jesus lived. As followers of Jesus, that is where Christ leads us, too.
Where is God pointing you this week? Who is on your heart and mind? How can you make life less difficult for them? Take a moment today to reach out with a text, email, or phone call. Your voice might be just the boost they need. Your kind words of encouragement and connection could lead them to a place of hope.
Trying to point to Jesus,
Pastor Lowell