MELTING YOUR NEGATIVE SHELL

BEHIND OUR PROTECTIVE SHELL

Knock, knock, who is in there.

It’s me, a child of God.

Do you believe that God loves that child inside of you.

If those x?#+/?% would stop messing with me and my ministry, I think I could be lovable.

How about trying to melt that hard shell you have built around you and releasing that wellspring of love within you?

How do I do that?

No guarantees, but there are a few steps you could take.

BEGIN BY EXPRESSING LOVE FOR GOD.

When we love someone, we try to take actions that cause that person to feel affirmed and valued. Consider some ways that you might express love for God and then for God’s beloved.

STEP ONE

Since God tends to work best in community, gather with two or more friends. Explain to them that you want to brainstorm with them some specific ways big or small that a person might express love for God. Relax and enjoy coming up with ten to fifteen different actions that express love for God. Make sure these are actual actions that a person can act on. Then, choose one or more for each of you and commit to try it for a month and then report back.

STEP TWO

After you have reported back to each other on your experience, expand your search by brainstorming together on ten to fifteen ways that someone might express love for God’s church. Yes, in this private conversation, it is all right to suggest a few cynical thoughts, but in the end arrive at several ways that you might seriously express love for God’s church. Then again each pick one or two ways and commit to doing them and reporting back in a month.

STEP THREE

Now move your efforts to love of neighbor and especially those that might be a little difficult to love. Let each of you pick two or three neighbors in or outside the church and describe for each other why they make it difficult to love. Then help each other brainstorm some specific ways that each of you could express love to that person in a way that would please God. Again focus on concrete actions that can be taken.

In some ways this might be the most difficult task, especially if you have chosen a person that especially irritates or offends you. It might help to pick two people–one who irritates you and one who you know is hurting and needs affirmation.

STEP FOUR

Now you are incarnating theology, so when you gather to report back, share not only your individual experience but also how the experiences have affected your faith journey.