Huddled. As if.

I find myself huddled again in my quiet corner in my study. There is worship music "I was made for you, I am loved by you" and "since your love got hold of me" playing. It's comforting.

My heart is breaking for friends who are so hurt by casualness. By being brushed off. By being thanked for what they can do and not who they are ... I can't talk about it but I want to weep this afternoon.

Our friend Dave puts it just how it should be in an email I received this afternoon.

"It is clear that today, just as in the time of Francis (of Assisi) the Spirit is raising up counter cultural Christian communities at a time when God's people most need the support and challenge such gatherings can provide.          This community of communities, as it is called, strives to live as if the priorities of modern society did not hold sway; as if the values of God's Reign were already operative in modern society.."

" In communities we join with scores of faith-filled men and women to live the great political and theological "as if." 

Politically we live as if  our nation was true to it's constitution of liberty and justice for all; as if people mattered in themselves and not for their economic or social status;" as if consumerism and the shopping mall did not determine the meaning of our lives....

Living these as ifs in the midst of community creates the prophetic possibility at local level, the space for modelling how things could be, ought to be and will be one day."

And the kicker.......

This idea of the church being an "as if" people who live together like the Kingdom were "already here in it's fullness," is inspiring! ( and my additional note- "is challenging.")

As if. Laying down the hurt and tears I have for others. How ON EARTH do I live as if? 

(There are days I would rather run away. God give me strength and willingness to live "as if".)