Greetings
Feb 21 2023 - Eric Buresh
As I mentioned in my last post, the Spirit has recently fixed my heart on the issue of unity and in our body at Grace. Fellowship in unity in Christ is so sweet as David described in Psalm 133 and Jesus prayed for in John 17. Such a beautiful thing!
Let me start this post with a confession – I’m terrible with names. I mean really, unusually bad. Anybody who has been around me for a while has seen it. I have no idea why it happens. I look at someone I’ve known for years walking up or even sitting with me in conversation, and I can remember dozens of details about them, factual and relational, but their name is gone and my brain starts to scramble for anything that will trigger that memory, and obvious distraction ensues on my face. The moment passes thankfully and the name restored, but in the moment, it's humbling and frustrating.
Another confession -- I love the book of Romans. I read through it frequently. Prior to a recent pass, though, I cannot recall God ever teaching me anything particular from the section in Romans 16:3-16. Those verses provide a list of 27 names and a little associated context for people that Paul wanted to greet at the end of his letter. I have always read that passage quickly and lightly. Recently, the Holy Spirit slowed me down. Paul, one of the greatest itinerate church planters and missionaries the world has ever seen, the author of a huge chunk of the New Testament, a hero of the faith, knew 27 people in some little gathering in Rome by name and took time to greet them. They were not anonymous to him. He knew their names. He cared about them. I guarantee you when Paul’s letter was read, those 27 people felt encouragement and blessing and love. How meaningful and encouraging for them!
As embarrassing as it is, the fact that my brain freeze on names is still a partially positive thing. Why? I had to know and have relationships with those brothers and sisters to even be in the position of having my momentary fog in the first place. The bigger concern for me, personally, is the many times in my life at Grace that I have hid in a crowd of anonymous faces while remaining anonymous myself. Anonymity is safe and comfortable. Come and go. No investment. No risk. No awkward moments. But, no reward either. The unity and oneness that is such a sweet fragrance of our faith cannot exist in anonymity. It’s not possible. We must know and be known by others in our body. While I appreciate it may not be possible to know several thousand people, it is totally possible to know and care about a small group, members of a class, members of a ministry team, or whatever context God places you in.
God is teaching me the importance of simply knowing those in our body so I can give them the small gift of a named greeting. I’m learning the value of this simple act. To give the gift to others of being known. Even a little act of greeting is an encouragement and a blessing. By a simple named greeting, we are expressing value and giving a sense of belonging. This an effort our whole body can easily undertake as a small yet meaningful step in pursuit of unity. I suspect we’ll find that the small step of a greeting will often produce meaningful and positive conversations that break down defensive walls and lead to greater levels of connection and spiritual oneness. While I apologize in advance if my brain seizes on your name, I’m going to be trying! Join me!
P.S. – as I’ve been thinking about this topic, my mind went to a gentleman who has been at Grace with his wonderful family for many years. He has given me inspiration toward growth in this area. I’m not going to name him (not because I’ve forgotten, but so as not to embarrass), but many will recognize him by description. There was a long time in Grace’s history where this gentleman would be found roaming the foyer meeting and greeting every new or recent guest he could find, writing their names and little connectors on his hand or some little scrap of paper and then keeping a report of those names so he could greet those folks by name the next week and weeks thereafter with a smile and a handshake, letting them know that they were known and valued. Many people found connection to our body and avoided anonymity because of this gentleman, and I praise the Lord for him. Let us imitate him! Love you brother!