Carried...

Galatians 6:2 (CEB) Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.

"Some things in life cannot be fixed. They can only be carried."-Megan Devine

I read this quote recently and it struck a deep chord in me. Throughout much of life there is this deep need to fix things. And by that I mean, there is need for things to stay put once they have been dealt with. We are to deal with “it” and move on.

Now “it” could be the ordinary stuff like choosing a color to paint the wall or when to do the dishes… those are the easy ones because once decided and completed they are finished. The extraordinary “its” of life are more involved. They don’t fit into nice categories and don’t stay put. These include things like moving, deciding to begin or end a relationship, and death are all things that have lasting effects on our lives.

The extraordinary things aren’t so much fixed as they are carried with us. And while we are more than just the choices that we make, these past decisions can affect our present lives. The challenge is to learn to live with them and not let them swallow you up or entirely define you.

The beauty of the church is that whatever you carry, the burden that you have, can be shared. Jesus talks about a yoke in his teachings and when he talks about the yoke being easy, he is referring to the “work” being done is shared and not placed on one’s shoulder alone. The burden becomes lighter for sure, but not entirely removed.

LPCC has been burden sharing 90 years and counting. Part of the beauty of our ministry is that we show up in each person’s life. The power of our presence is undeniable though it takes work, and it takes us committing ourselves to burden sharing in all the transitions of life. Thanks be to God!

Grace and peace,
Rev. Brian