[Bands] don’t survive by accident. It takes will, intent, a sense of shared purpose and a tolerance for your friends' fallibilities and they of yours.
This is taken from Bruce Springsteen's induction speech that he gave for U2 on their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As soon as I heard this line, I was floored because it sent waves to my heart that found their way to my brain, and I immediately thought to my self, "this is not only true of bands...it's also true of the community that God has placed each of us in." In reality, this is a great definition of what biblical fellowship, as I see it, looks like.
Our communities do not stay together by accident. It takes will, (His will), intent (intentionality...making time for each other), a shared purpose (joining with one another in the advancement of His kingdom...not our own), and tolerance for one another's fallibilities (forgiving one another as He has forgiven us).
Wow! We all could learn much from U2...whether you like their political views or not...whether you like their music or not. What Bruce Springsteen said is true of them. I hope that the same can be said about our churches someday!
You can read the speech here.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt. 6:19-21)
I was speaking today with another teacher, and we were talking about gaining recognition at work and winning awards. I was telling her how there is part of me that really wants to receive some kind of recognition for a job well done, but I just don't want to give up my family and work endless hours in order to receive such recognition. After I said that, her comment hit me like cold water in the face. She said, "I've got a room full of trophies, but no one to share my life with." It seemed as if I could feel the emptiness that she spoke of. From the way she said it, I knew that she was willing to trade all of her trophies in for someone to share her life with.
What trophies are we chasing? What are we treasuring...prizes or relationships? With whom are we sharing our lives?
I wonder if storing treasures in heaven means sharing our lives (fellowship/koinonia) with someone else.