I am in a humbling position.  I read the Bible, I pray, but I need more help.  For some reason my back has been getting sore and I have had rushes of anxiety.  I don’t know how to solve this problem by myself.  I need help.  God has been using my weakness to teach me.

Firstly, the mind body connection became apparent when I checked into the New School for Massage in Chicago.  I have had two sessions and a lot of pressure on my nerves has been relieved. 

Secondly, I had to go and see a therapist.  That sounds like failure to me.  I had to admit that I needed help talking through how this anxiety built up.  A therapist has helped me to see that I feel personally responsible for how others feel and I take the guilt and the burden on myself.

Thirdly, following my first week of therapy I went to a small group leadership workshop at The Chapel.  The general thrust of the morning was that the small group needs to be a place where people can grow.  We have to admit that we are all screwed up in some way.  That starts with the leaders.  I followed the workshop by admitting to my small group how I had been struggling.

In summary, I have had to think through how we are designed to need each other.  I need to see who I am and how I fit in the whole.  Part of allowing others to use their gifts is to be open about deep weaknesses and failures.  When we open the wounds up and work on them with each other we can be healed and whole.

1 Corinthians 12: 21-26

 ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²²On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Questions

1. What can the eye not say to the hand?
2. What does God give to the parts that lack it?
3. What happens if one part of the body suffers or is honoured?
4. Are you aware of how much you need other people to be healthy?  What are your needs in particular?
5. How does church as an organisation that needs you and that you need differ from how people think of church?  How could taht be put right?

Going Deeper

Look at yourself and think of the things that you need.  Look at yourself and think of the strengths that you have.  Without demanding from others, how can you let them meet your needs?  Without being insensitive, how can you provide for the needs of others?

Be someone who is open with your church.  Help to create a healthy community of interdependence.