Reflections on Being ‘ Family ’.
I came to St . Oswald ’ s last year , having spent my life as a Christian in mostly Evangelical churches . The ways of the Scottish Episcopalian Church could not have been more opposite to what was familiar to me . There at the front of church , was a woman and she was the Priest in charge ! … there was no loud worship band , no talking in tongues , no hands waving in the air . This is not a criticism of Evangelical worship , just a simple observation of the differences I encountered .
At first it was very strange , I was apprehensive in this strange new world . I had so many questions . Would I encounter the Holy Spirit ? Would I feel part of a ‘ family ’? Would I feel at ‘ home ’? I knew I had to stay , but I didn ’ t know why . There was no doubt , that events leading up to visiting St . Oswald ’ s for the first time , were God inspired ( a story for another time ) and I clung onto this as I waited to hear what God was saying .
Almost 6 months later , I can look back and reflect on what has been a breathtaking journey . For the first time in over 20 years of knowing Christ I met God as my Father ... Abba father . I encountered Jesus , who is teaching me daily to be a daughter of Christ . And the Holy Spirit ? Well she has been busy – very , very busy . I have rediscovered the power of prayer , in everything . I have been on my knees and wept , I have felt a depth of Joy , previously unknown to me , I am learning to relate , to know what it is to be a member of a church family and to know who I am , to learn , perhaps for the first time , my identity in Christ .
I have my own family , I am part of a household . I am married to Stuart and have 2 children . I am blessed to still have both my parents , despite their mature years . I know what it ’ s like to be a wife , a mother , a daughter , to work hard and somehow manage a household and all that involves . Yet do I really ? It is so very easy to become who we are labeled on earth – our professions , our jobs , our identity in our family and never really relate . Sure , as a family , as a household we have good times , we have bad , we have happy times and of course sad . We laugh , we cry , we fight , we get angry with one another – that is life . Should it be different for my church family ? God is teaching me , through His Holy Spirit , that by growing in church family , He can teach so much , bless so abundantly my earthly family , my household . He wants me / us to have ‘ the eyes to see ’; ‘ the ears to hear ’, He wants to ‘ renew our minds ’ – and that is quite frankly amazing .
When He does , when we allow Him to , then we truly understand ‘ family ’, then we really learn what it truly means to ‘ relate ’.
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