This past weekend I was reminded how quickly life can change and how amazing technology can be. I know that we spend a lot of time talking about the good old days and how much simpler life was before the advent of social media and other technological advances. We have a whole new set of things to deal with like cyber bullying, and internet stalking and personal information being stolen and…… the list goes on. However, there is something wonderful about this access to people and places and information that makes good things possible.
Connected
I was sitting home on Friday night and I received a text and that text connected me with a fellow clergy I had never met half way across this country. In the matter of minutes we embarked on a journey of partnership to bring pastoral care and practical help to a family in desperate need of some good news. This morning, thanks to the internet, I was able to expand that circle of care by contacting my colleagues in the other churches of Truro to join in this journey and that only took one minute of my time. Thanks to things like facebook this family has been able to stay connected one to the other even though they are thousands of miles apart.
No Longer Confined
This connection has meant that we are able to be the body of Christ in new and amazing ways. There was a time when a faith family was pretty much confined to a geographical location. We could connect with others and share ministries but it took longer and we were constrained by that distance. That boundary no longer really exists. We can now share stories, engage in active ministries and journey together in a very real way just with the click of a button. We can bring the healing ministry of the Christ to those who are hurting, speak words of justice and rally support locally, nationally and globally almost instantly. We can develop and nurture relationships and connect on a deep spiritual level. WOW!
We are Not Alone
Every now and then someone asks me “ How big is your church?” In the past I have heard that in a very definite way and responded “ We have about 350 families.” Yesterday my neighbour asked me the same question and I heard it very differently. My church is very big indeed. I have no idea how many people there are and they live all over the world. In the words of the United Church Creed
“We are not alone. We live in God’s world. Thanks be to God!”
Blessings
Valerie
© 2105 Rev. Valerie Peyton Kingsbury. All rights reserved.