Reflection
Credit: Tom Price
Embracing the Vulnerable
Jesus could have said, alongside ‘you will always have the poor with you’, you will always have the vulnerable with you. Christian communities, at their best, beat with the heart of God to care for those who are the most vulnerable; whether through social or physical or mental struggles as well as those who are exploited or oppressed through injustice. The Cambridge Dictionary describes Vulnerable as ‘able to be easily physically, emotionally or mentally hurt, influenced or attached’. And I think we could add the words financially, spiritually, to it and, in our current context physically could include health and shortage of food. It breaks our heart and the heart of God to read of the increase of calls made around domestic abuse and to read of people taking the opportunity to scam or prey on those who are vulnerable. We know these are a minority of people and situations (which in no way means they matter less) but nonetheless in our daily prayer gathering online we have consistently prayed for protection and help for people in such situations. We know we are all vulnerable in different ways but there are those who are fragile-vulnerable that need more protection than others - we are called to be intercessors and helpers and a voice for them, not just now but always.
We are also reading and hearing stories of incredible acts of love and care towards the fragile-vulnerable. There are hotels and hostels being converted into homes for the homeless, who will then be given food each day from expert chefs. There are mentoring and counselling services being provided for those in need. There are meals and financial donations being given to those who are both the vulnerable and the fragile-vulnerable. There are practical helps being given to those who are isolated or who are working on the front line against coronavirus. There are many many more wonderful stories of people serving others who in doing so understand, either consciously or unconsciously, that they have vulnerabilities as well. The blessing we receive is not because we are strong and others weak but that all of us, together, find our strength and hope in God alone. It is about where we focus and orientate our understanding of what it means to be human and, if this is the case for you, a follower of Jesus.
In much of the leadership language and in the language of being a servant for, and with, Jesus we hear of the importance of (appropriate) vulnerability through being authentic and real. I think this is right and important. This is different to a theology, which we have sometimes seen through history, of us having to be a perfect example of being perfect which has come with labels for some christians of having or being holy huddles or a God squad and so on. The language we use has to be carefully used to avoid the danger that we create an image of a God who has a hierarchy of importance and value placed on people dependant on their strength or weakness, their invulnerability or vulnerability. All are made in the image of God and all, in my opinion, need God to understand what that image is and who we are made to be.
I have begun a page with the title Learnings through Now and I am writing down thoughts and reflections of what I sense God may be saying or what I am seeing and hearing around the world that could give some direction of travel for when we come out the other side of this. For me, I do not want to go backwards (I also do not want to throw out all that came before) but I want more, I want better, I want greater for both the church and humanity. Obviously, I am only one small man but even the ripples of each of our individuals lives affects the tides. Those who are vulnerable and those who are fragile-vulnerable will still be, after all of this, and what will the home of those in hotels and hostels look like, what will neighbour mean to us, what help and support will continue and be shaped and embedded in different ways for future years?
As is often the case (no surprise really!) God speaks through the scriptures and the words of a prophet, called Jeremiah, are far better than my ramblings on this, ‘I know the plans I have for you… to prosper you and not to harm you… to give you hope and a future… then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you’. I encourage us all to be asking God what the plans are for us now and in the future. I want to remind you to seek God but also seek out how to help our neighbour, in particular the fragile-vulnerable. I want you to hear that we can find strength and hope in God. I want you to know that you are not alone. Jesus also understands what it means to be vulnerable and we will soon be encountering this on our journey from Palm Sunday to Easter Day. Together we embrace the vulnerable in our communities and support each other with our own vulnerabilities.
Turn swiftly, with all your heart, to God and be embraced. It is in Christ where community can be found, where disconnected parts exiled from each other can collide back together both beyond and within time and space.
‘We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.’