NorthStar Community Daily Devotional

April 13

Scripture focus: A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 NIV

After Marion’s memorial service, our family had to rush off in various directions. Those of us who didn’t have to scramble back so quickly to the routines of life gathered for a quiet meal and time of reflection. Brenda, Vera’s daughter, retold the story of “sitting shoes” from her perspective. She laughed and reminisced about the unique sound that too big shoes made in the hallways of church. “Clomp clomp clomp” slapped the shoes on the bare linoleum floor as Marion and Vera walked from car to pew, valiantly pinching their toes in an attempt to keep the shoes from falling off.

From our perspective, buying shoes that don’t fit seems pretty silly. But these two young women often went shopping for “church outfits” because attending church was not something they did when it suited them, but was instead a lifelong commitment to community because they believed that if God said do it, than it must be worth doing regularly, sacrificially, and reverently. Surely anything this central to daily living would require a great pair of shoes.

What is NOT silly is the commitment Marion and Vera made to each other and their respective faith community. Here’s the thing about church. There’s a lot of “clomp clomp clomping” as we seek to live in a community that is birthed out of some sense that God wants us to love him and others. This stirring of belief raises a lot of questions for us as individuals and as community participants. We know intuitively that we were created for something so glorious when it comes to faith that we should have on really awesome shoes while we’re living life. Along the way, these shoes that hold such promise and sparkle may disappoint. At a minimum, community building can be confusing and even a hassle.

Last Sunday Pete was leading his men’s group, and one of the guys said something that agitated another one of the regulars to the point that he got up and left the group. Once the group disbanded and headed for the subsequent celebration service, the agitated community member offered Pete this feedback. “Pete, how many times do I have to keep telling you man? In this room, there can be no room for religion or politics.”

Pete shook his head in confusion as he shared his experience. He’s wondering how one keeps religion out of a bible study. From Pete’s perspective, this comment sounded like “clomp clomp clomping.” But from the complainer’s perspective, he thought the bible study itself sounded like “clomp clomp clomping.” As I listened, I heard sweet music and experienced the thrill of companions turning into friends.

Faith communities are places where we belong and have both the obligation and privilege of asking what it means to believe. Because we’re companions who are friends that might end up becoming closer than brothers, we listen to more than what is said or done (whether sensible or silly), so that along the way, we might experience the movement of the Holy Spirit among us.


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