What do you do when you are always the one initiating things and are never pursued yourself
Answered by Caitlin Lieder
Initiating is tough because it is vulnerable. You are putting yourself out there with the possibility of someone saying no, not to mention you are making plans that may not be to the liking of everyone around you. It’s a huge step of faith in your relationships that tests your fear of rejection and failure.
Answered by Jill Buteyn
How do we live out long-term suffering with others in a society that has a hard time with long-term anything? There are many of us who aren’t going to get well. We get the I just know that Jesus is going to heal you, and Just pray and you will be fine, or Have you tried this latest thing—I’m sure it will help you. But what we need is just love and community to do life with?
Answered by Caitlin Lieder
How do we open our eyes to see everyone around us, not just those who look and act like we do? Those who might be in a different stage of life or a different salary bracket or have less/more education. The single moms. Single people, period. The introverts who blend into the background.
Question: I grew up in a family that isolated us from others. How do I step out of this and learn to build community as an adult? How do I engage and pursue others? How do I get past my tendency to isolate?
Answered by Allie de Graaf
Community is a miracle. Getting to experience Gospel-saturated relationships of knowing and being known, of loving and being loved, of sharing the ugly inside each of us and yet still being accepted and valued, that truly is a miracle. When I consider the culture I grew up in, my present community becomes even more of a miracle.
Answered by Jill Buteyn
Most days, I feel the weariness seep into my bones halfway through the day. But there is still much to be done. And so I go, go, go. Drive the kids. Clean the house. Cook the meals. (Okay, I’ll be honest, I don’t always cook, but I do try. J) At the end of the day, I’m exhausted. The next day, we get up and do it all over again.
