Blessed are the flexible, for they will not easily be broken. This thought helps me through many situations as they arise. Whether it is my kid’s school calling to say they need to reschedule my appointment with the teacher for the second time, or finding out my doctor’s office sent me a bill much bigger than they should have which I will need to work out, I need flexibility. (I also need to act nice on the phone.)
Soon, we will move into a new auditorium at church and we will all need flexibility. Things may not go the way we think they should. We may have to walk a bit further. Blessed are the flexible. Someone may be sitting in the seat I thought I would sit in. Blessed are the Flexible. Someone may be parked where I wanted to park. Blessed are the flexible. It may take standing in line for a bit longer than I want, in order to pick up my children during the transition time. Blessed are the flexible. My ministry area may be affected by the remodel (soon to come) on the old auditorium which will become the new youth auditorium. Blessed are the flexible.
So, why be flexible? Sometimes it is good to reflect on why we are doing the things we are doing. Personally, it is good to be flexible for our own personal witness for Christ. As a church, our members need flexibility because it has an impact on our community. We could ask ourselves, “What business am I in?” and, “How is business?” (We are in the “moving people toward God” business. We are in the “loving people into a relationship with God” business.)
I think you could say that there are two kinds of people in the world. There are those who are lost and have ruin and wreckage in their lives. (which is all of us at least some of the time) and there are those who have a heart to reach the lost people who have ruin and wreckage in their lives. Sometimes it takes flexibility to reach others. Other people’s needs often do not come at a convenient time for us.
I experienced a rude young women a few weeks ago at church. I don’t know if she was a Christian or not, but I tried to be “flexible” in my dealings with her. Blessed are the Flexible. J
Reaching out with grace takes work and patience and sometimes, remembering to be flexible.
God Bless you!
Thora
I love how you say, “Blessed are the Flexible” because I can think of several times that I was blessed because of a cancellation, or stepped up to something at the last minute which allowed me to bless someone else. This again reminds me to live in expectancy rather than expectation.
I am so excited to worship in the new building. To walk in and feel God’s presence. To sit back and watch the lives that will be healed and touched and molded. Praise God for His blessing of The Vineyard. Praise and Glory be to Him who brought me to the church that I call home. Thank you, Thora for all that you are and all that you do.
Oh, Thora, your flexibility has blessed me so many times! Thank you for reminding us that we need to prepare our hearts to be patient and kind with the new generation of believers that one day will thank us for our own flexibility. ;0) May God be glorified in all we say and do!!!
Thanks for sharing, Thora! I’ve found myself thinking on some of these very things the last couple of weeks. Somehow claiming my seat in the new sanctuary brings to mind visions of “blue light specials” and people vying for the best spot. Hopefully none of us will resort to fisticuffs if we’re all practicing flexibility!