Although I was born in New Jersey, I spent the majority of my childhood and teenage years living in southern Pennsylvania. Bucks County, anyone? For some unknown reason, people in Pennsylvania typically identify their geography by county first and then the specific town. I don’t know why we do that, but we do. I spent my formative elementary, middle, and high school years loving Bucks County, PA. I shared the petite bedroom of a small, brick, ranch house with my older sister for 10 years. We had bunk beds for all of them. #blessed? My two younger brothers also shared a room with bunk beds and lizard decals adorning all four walls. The five of us (my saintly mother included) shared 1 bathroom. *Gasp!*
BELONGING.
I’ll be honest - it wasn’t always a pretty life. I recall lots of yelling, many groundings, wrestling matches gone bad, and the specific kind of passive-aggressive behavior that can only come forth from 2 high school sisters sharing a teeny space. There was a lot of angst thrown around.
My childhood was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but if there’s one thing I know for certain, even amidst the fights and drama of family life, it’s that we had an enormous amount of love for each other. Having lived away from my childhood home for 10 years now I often look back and see in hindsight what was not obvious in the moment. It strikes me now that although we really did have a lot of love for each other, it was never perfect. I don’t know what your family experience was (or is) like, but I do know this to be undeniably true of mine: I have not always felt unconditionally loved by my family, but I have never once questioned whether I belonged to them. It’s this sense of belonging that tethers me to them permanently.
GOD’S FAMILY
At the Night of Worship tomorrow we will sing ‘Living Hope’ by Brian Johnson/Phil Wickham. This song sends shockwaves through my heart every time I listen to it and every time I sing it. The second verse gives me chills:
“Who could imagine so great a mercy
What heart could fathom such boundless grace
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me his own
Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope”
The God who created everything and has power over everything also formed me intentionally, saved me sacrificially, chose me specifically, and knows me completely. The motivation of these actions toward me is love. The result is belonging. I am completely forgiven and wholly accepted because God shows great mercy, boundless grace, total humility, and willing sacrifice through Jesus Christ on the cross.
I will be a part of the Detweiler family hailing from Bucks County, PA for as long as I live because I share their love and blood and the experience of growing together for many years. But that temporal belonging cannot compare to the eternal belonging to God’s family made possible by the love of the Father, the blood of Jesus, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit as I grow into Christ’s image this side of heaven.
NIGHT OF WORSHIP
I hope that you experience a profound sense of belonging when we sing together this Friday night. I hope you are overwhelmed by the Spirit of God reminding you how loved and accepted you are. I am praying that your response will be unhindered worship.
See you on Friday!
<3 Sarah
