2:25 – You Belong Here. You Have a Place Here.

#faithbites #faithjourney place

In my career, I have always been the person helping the people do things. I’ve very rarely considered myself the doer. Be it supporting online teaching, supporting teachers, helping leaders, advising students, I have always been the one to help.

When I worked in Corporate America, I didn’t feel what I did had a direct impact on people. When I worked in central administration units, I felt that I was “staff” and didn’t have an impact on the students. Later, working academic units, I felt that I was staff and not faculty. Thus, I didn’t have place or belong. I know I’m not alone in that searching for having a place and belonging.

Yesterday, we held our 2nd annual curriculum retreat. Part of my personal goal was to help everyone regardless of rank from deans to faculty to staff to support and beyond that they were part of the mission of the college. They had a place. As I was leaving for the day, a good friend of mine asked me to read one of the evaluations. It said “After today, I feel that I have a place in the College”. (Or something to that effect). Then she had me look at who presented that session. I was me. It truly made my day.

We all have our place in God’s family. He has chosen us no matter if we are presidents, kings, janitors, professionals, educated, uneducated, or any other thing that we can think of. We belong. We have a place.

Scripture

• There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:28
• For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. ⁸For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  – Romans 14:7-8
• The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, – Psalm 24:1

Reflection

God created all things and we are part of all things. We are his. Too often, we look at how we are different or the labels we put on ourselves or others to differentiate.

It doesn’t matter if you are Jew or Gentile, church going or not, educated or not. What matters is God knew you before you were born (Jeremiah 1:5) and you are in his family.

We should strive to make sure everyone who is in God’s family feels included. Guess what? That’s everyone.

While that comment was only one piece of feedback, that one person felt better about their role in the college. They understood that their job, while it maybe doesn’t directly impact the students, does impact our culture and our college family. Likewise, reaching out to even one person, can alter their life.

Don’t forget, that you belong here. You have a place.

Charge

This charge is two fold. The first is do you feel like you don’t belong? Look at others and see that you are more alike than not. Talk to someone and share your passions. On the flip side, reach out to others. Show them that they belong. Show them that they have commonality with you and bring their unique talents to the table.

Prayer

God Almighty, thank you for the gift of feedback. Thank you for giving me the skills to help someone feel that they belong and they have a place. Help us all to remember that we belong to you. That we fit in in your plan and in your house. In your name, Amen.