I'm lonely.
I like to think I'm self-sufficient and independent, and maybe I am to some extent, but that's not always necessarily a good thing. It's because I don't want to ask for help, or be too vulnerable, or it's just too much work to work at relationships. Don't get me wrong, I'm not living in a bubble. I'm meeting with friends and making an effort to get involved in church activities and working at being intentional. But almost everything (if not everything) I do right now requires my intentionality, and after a while, I'm just tired. Friendships in general take a long time for me to develop, and I might say in the Czech Republic, with a language barrier and which is a reserved culture to begin with, it's twice or 3x as hard - at least to develop relationships that truly feel like we're a part of each others' lives. Right now, I don't have any of those with Czech people. I am not fully welcomed in... yet.
So if I present the image that life in Prague is perfect and I don't need you, it's not true. And I apologize. I DO need you. I think we need each other. I can't do this life on my own. Yes, I have fellowship here, but I also need the encouragement from my home - the people who have sent me, known me the longest, or even just share my home culture and language. Yes, your missionaries really do need you! :)
And you need me - to remind you of this corner of the world that needs Jesus. And that you're a part of something bigger than yourselves. And that I'm not the only one who might be lonely - there are people on the other side of the world or across the city or down the road who need a friendly smile or word of encouragement from you. There are those around us who need to be welcomed in - to invade the space of our comfortable, secure worlds.
Such a gesture doesn't necessarily fix everything, but it can make a day. Not only am I blessed by a word of encouragement, I'm blessed by your sharing your lives and realness with me. It's a 2 way street - as much as a reminder for myself to be intentional to give and receive. To give encouragement and open myself to receiving by being real. I want to be honest about life. And I want the blessing of being able to pray for you about life - don't deny me that joy in partnership. To create this relationship, this realness, this BODY OF CHRIST takes intentionality - mine and yours. For the person at the other end of the pew on Sunday morning. Or for the elderly neighbor. Or for the friend on the other side of the ocean. May you be encouraged by the fullness of the body of Christ today.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
- Hebrews 10:24-25
