POWER OF TRANSPARENCY

Sunday afternoon a collection of New Pen families arrived home after a weather affected camping expedition to Koorumburra. Our family is trying really hard to get used to this crazy Victorian weather...on Friday it was steaming hot which erupted into an afternoon of storms (seriously it was very stormy- we were putting up aluminium tent poles with thunder and lightning whizzing around and Bethany literally screaming louder with each thunder clap!), then it rained solid for 36 hours until Sunday when it fined up enough to pack everything up! Our plight wasn't helped by members of the staff team (who will remain anonymous) who jibed via SMS that this weather is more suited to ducks then people. They wont be laughing when I cable-tie everything in their office together :)

On Sunday I came away with the thought that the community God has bought together here at New Peninsula is incredibly powerful. As people talked throughout the weekend (there's not a whole lot else you can do when it's raining nonstop) you overhear stories about sickness and troubles, plans for the future and hopes and aspirations. You hear honest, open and transparent discussion about raising kids and the limitations we face juggling work and finances and deadlines. This is the true expression of Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Ultimately the law of Christ is simply love- being available to listen, share, support and affirm each other regularly is an important aspect of love in action, and is incredibly powerful.

As families we sometimes struggle to get to church on time and intact with all faculties (or is that just our family??). Then, when we're asked afterwards in a 5 minute fellowship time how we're going, it's just sometimes easier to forget about all the things we face weekly, put on the brace face and grimace out the answer, "Yep we're all going well thanks, and you?" I believe that we as families must blast through fears of rejection, shame and even the fear of projecting our burdens onto others, in order to continue that open and honest sharing about how we're really travelling.

Engaging in God's family is not the Coles checkout relationship where we answer the same questions the same polite way, "Fine thanks, and you?" We must take the risk to actually be vulnerable when asked how we're travelling. Let's be soft towards one another "...and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25

God bless! Dan