Community. . .
The Body of Christ. . .
Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galations 6:2) . . .
Because He told us that HIS yoke is easy and HIS burden is light, why is it so confusing to us, this burden-bearing-process? Why do those burdens that we pick up along the way with each other feel so heavy?
My Counselor gave me a hard word for my "Homework" this week:
BOUNDARIES
I have a hard time with that word. You see, years ago, Jesus tore down my own walls of perfection that I had set for myself. Now I don't like the idea of re-setting fences; re-erecting walls to fend off possible attacks; re-forming masks to keep out prying eyes. . . Neither did Jesus. After all, He called out the Pharisees with their whitewashed sepulchers! (Matthew 23:27)
And yet, BOUNDARIES are spoken of quite differently when the Holy Spirit places them:
"Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance." (Psalm 16:5-6)
Have I created my own confusion? What if I have picked up yokes along the way that were never meant for me? What if I have set up protections for myself that never needed to be in place? But what if I have MISSED the very protection that would have been pleasant for me, by walking on past the YOKE that Jesus would have desired me to bear?
Here in this place of RA/Fibro weakness, a new Season of Yoke-bearing has become inescapable. I cannot bear the old burdens any longer; I cannot live the old way of
NO BOUNDARIES
OPEN SEASON
FREE-FOR-ALL
that I was in the habit of doing. And I have felt adrift. Cut off from the Body. Because if NO-BOUNDARIES-LIVING is not possible, how can I ever learn again to bear ANY burdens?
In the middle of these questions, I came across this beautiful Hymn, sung so sweetly by Angela Figel:
I can remember my 9 year old self standing outside at recess and singing this song to my friends! (Yes, I KNOW that's not normal, but that's the amazing connection with this video: I found out I was not the only child who loved this hymn!)
Ah, but it has been this little girl inside of ME, who has needed to pay attention to the Words.
JESUS LEADS ME WHERE HIS LIVING WATER FLOWS, AND GIVES ME ONLY THE EASY YOKE INSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES THAT HIS HOLY SPIRIT DRAWS.
Walking forward in this Journey, if I listen to HIS promptings,
the boundary lines can indeed be pleasant.
Even in the most trying of places, HE still carries the heavy part of our load Himself.
Hi Bettie. This question really gives me pause for reflection - "But what if I have MISSED the very protection that would have been pleasant for me, by walking on past the YOKE that Jesus would have desired me to bear?" We can be so busy setting up our own protection, can't we?
ReplyDeleteI want you to know that even though you cannot go out like you used to, you are still bearing other's burdens through your blog. I know how it feels though. It's hard to accept the limitations chronic illness entails, isn't it? I try to tell myself to bloom wherever I am planted even when it is in a more confined place. It's a comfort to know that "Even in the most trying of places, HE still carries the heavy part of our load Himself." Blessings and hugs to you!
Thank you Trudy for your kind words! Yes, this post was a difficult one for me to share, so I appreciate your encouragement! But you are right--in this very place of blogging even, burdens are being shared and carried. I am so glad we can pray for each other to find the NEW JOY that He wants to plant in us here. Hugs and Blessings to you my new friend!
DeleteHi Bettie,
ReplyDeleteI actually love all the questions you ask yourself about carrying burdens you might never have been meant to carry -- I think God loves our questioning sincere hearts! And I love the connection you remembered as a child with the song in the video! Bettie, you are an inspiration as you continue to carry on with life's challenges and still show your sincere heart within you!
Thank you Valerie! Yes, isn't it sweet how Jesus never forgets our childlike places of trust in Him? I appreciate your words and thoughts so much. They are a true blessing and help to me! --"Hugs!"
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