“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-4).
If “seeing each other through” had a scripture passage to go with it, it would be this one. Notice how helping someone else avoid temptation includes a realization of your own susceptibility. You can’t help your brother or sister with a splinter in his/her eye without dealing with the log in your own. And don’t forget: dealing with the log in your own eye makes you a different person. You approach his/her speck from an entirely different perspective than if it were only the other person’s problem. No, it’s your problem, too. You have personal experience.
And then notice that bit about carrying each other’s burden. God built us to do this. He means for us to have burdens too big for one person to carry. He made us so we would need each other. This, in spite of how hard we try to be self-sufficient. Don’t mistake this for pride. Sooner or later we have to give up being alone. Sooner is better.
The homeless women of Isaiah House have burdens too big to carry. The law of Christ is fulfilled in shouldering those burdens. Many of you have found joy in this with us.
And what about you and me? Where do we go with our burdens? Do we just take them to the Lord, or do we, like the scriptures teach, find someone to help us – a flesh-and-blood someone? Do we have this kind of sharing and bearing among ourselves? And if we don’t, why not? Is there too much pride? Is there no leadership? Someone has to start.
The following lyrics are courtesy of Dave.
Now the plumber’s got a drip in his spigot
The mechanic’s got a clank in his car
And the preacher’s thinking thoughts that are wicked
And the lover’s got a lonely heart
My friends ain’t the way I wish they were – they are just the way they are
And I will be my brother’s keeper – not the one who judges him
I won’t despise him for his weakness. I won’t regard him for his strength.
I won’t take away his freedom. I will help him learn to stand.
And I will – I will be my brother’s keeper
– from “Brother’s Keeper” by Rich Mullins
John Fischer The Catch 
Tell Marti we’re all weathering storms on the East Coast. Although snow may not be in your forecast, perhaps “Weathering The Storms” of life could be on her agenda for January. It ties in with your devotional about bearing each other’s burdens — we need each other through the storms of life.
K
Karen:
Well said!
While it may not be snowing where we are – it is bloody cold (for us) with “weathering the storms” a truism. There are not enough cold weather shelters to accommodate the needs of people who, for whatever reason, find themselves without a home and very isolated.
I think your considerations will do the Isaiah House women good.
Thank you for responding!
Mart
Think of it this way – if you hold even the smallest of splinters up close to your eye, then it appears to be a log and you cannot see around it to help anyone. We need to be aware of and deal with the ‘log’ immediately in front of us before we try to remove the ‘splinter’ from another’s eye, even though both the log and the splinter are the same size..
So God is walking along and says, “Hey Cain, where’s your brother?” And Cain says, “I don’t know, it’s not my day to watch him!”
God says, “Yes it is”
What brother has been in my care that I assassinated with words?
I’m guilty of murder and felt good about it.
For me what (name the church ) have I become so disillusioned about and now dislike that I can’t walk with it’s members?
I have to walk with the sinners and the saints, there the same people.
I have to walk with others not just to be their keeper but because I need those around me to keep me as well. None of this is as simple as it sounds.
Walk with me, Neil Young
Wow. What’s happening to Mr. Young. Sounds like he’s tuning in.
how about
new beginnings or refreshment (new year, epiphany God brings us a new opportunity)or the celebration continues (i.e.) the miracle of the birth of Christ,
just some thoughts
God bless
Wise words. Thank you.
Marti
An idea for Marti: Since January is a month for new starts and resolutions, how about a party for “fresh starts.” The woman could get facials, or make up, or massage etc.
I like your thinking, Doug. Any woman would enjoy such a pleasure – especially our Isaiah House women.
Thank you.
Or, Winter Wonderland…
Yes. I mentioned to another reader that I have friends in an event/promotion business who have access to the machines that make snow. I think the experience would be well worth repeating.
Thank you!
Idea for Marti — Winter wonderland. You southern Cal folks need a hint of “snow”! White billowy snow drifts (rolls of quilt fiberfill work well), silver & blue sparkles, those twinkle lites from Christmas…….well, you get the drift (no pun intended!). Have fun!
Sue:
There is a consensus occurring about the romance of winter wonderland. Thank you so much for responding
Marti
This is a message that can keep you in a place where you can give others grace. I believe it goes hand in hand with this weeks topic! I cried my way thru it last night. night. It’s by a guy named John Lynch. He is speaking to a navigators group on the campus of NY university. http://www.nyu.edu/clubs/navigators/audio/room_of_grace.mp3
SoberOne, that was really good
I’m with Aristotle, I was thinking something like “Turning Over A New Leaf” — a new year, a time for new opportunities! Thanks for the great work you do for these ladies — and for us in keeping our faith up!
I agree with Aristotle. “Ring in the New Year”. Everyone gets a costume ring and everytime they wear it, it will be a reminder of the blessings of the Lord in their lives.
suggestion re January dinner ( not terribly original) snow! Snowflakes! ( each one is unique, like we are)…find cotton batting and make a large snowman. Use color projections of the beautiful snow landscapes in the midwest.
I like the ideas of New Year/New Beginnings. An idea maybe for a future month follows the lines of the latest catchs – My sister’s keeper. They can make beaded bracelets – that all have the same color beads – but maybe in different order/combinations. We are different but really basiclly the same – and we need each other to make it through this life. If we are together – we are not alone. Maybe corney but just a thought.
Not corny at all – in fact on the contrary!
Hi John
I am appreciating these words. They speak to me of trust & vulnerability, two characteristics that those in the church often find difficult but were fundamentally lived out by our Lord.
Trust (or the lack of it) is the foundation of every relationship. But not one of us knows this trust without our willing to be vulnerable.
Thank you for your recommendation! I love it!
Marti
A New Attitude – and play some Patti LaBelle.
In the middle of all this learning to walk together and deciding where I fit in a strange thing happened to my wife and I this morning in church. A lady came over to us and said she heard about us, (we never know where that is going) and she was interested in our group that meets every other week.
It is a group we started that accepts others regardless of where they are on there spiritual journey. We emphasize “the walk” as opposed to the condemnation.
Part of who we are is:
* We are people who went to church once and are now Evangelical refugees.
* We are people who never stopped going to church, yet are seeking a community that provides a different level of engagement.
* We see no barrier in fellowship due to age and we are young, not so young and above.
* We are the injured who are striving to be self-aware; struggle is an almost constant.
* Our cynicism can sometimes just be masking our confusion and vulnerability.
* Our idealism is based in the trust that transformation is possible in the individual, the church and the whole world.
* Some have children, some live alone, some are alone, some are partnered.
* Some of us are rooted here, and some are passing through.
* We are friends and allies of all the above.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=14795310228&v=info
I love this list. I want to be a part of this group!