Bonding and Splitting
Living in Santa Barbara is a bit of a unique experience. Where else can you find 3 major universities in a city of less than 100,000 people, right next to the beach? For me personally, there are parts of it that I love, and parts of it that I love - not so much. One of the things that fits into the ‘not so much’ category, is that by the nature of the town it is, people are constantly moving away to other places. In the 3 years that I have lived here, I have seen more good friends move away than I can count on both hands. And each time another close friend moves away, I feel like I too want to move, so that I won’t be dis-heartened by that type of departure any longer. But this evening, coming home from yet another goodbye party of some loved ones, I came to a new realization.
So, if it is indeed a postmodern culture that is emerging around the globe that we are a part of, and also trying to reach, then it is this sort of departure that is not only good, but in fact critical. I believe that many of us are left with a stale taste in our mouth of the oh so familiar ‘bubble’ christianity. It is no longer fit that we sit amongst ourselves discussing the things of God; but we are thirsting to see and know God as He exists amongst His people, yes, even the ones that don’t know Him. Hence the movement of house churches across the nations, and the ‘cell groups’ being ported into coffee shops and bars in hometowns. I believe this is a necessary step in the kingdom, from which I am drinking deeply. I know that myself along with my friends have been enjoying greatly, the atmosphere of the emergent postmodern church. It is a new work, and we are excited. So, how does this tie in to parting ways with some close friends? Well, just by the very nature of having and holding close relationships, there must be something to bond the parties involved. And when it comes to us, it is most common that our strongest bond with our closest friends, is our concurrent relationships with God. People meet and conglomerate with other people that are like minded. It’s not ground breaking, it’s just fact. The problem is, the people that we bond best with, are the people that it is most painful to be pried away from. But maybe we shouldn’t look at it like a departure in the sense of scraping old wallpaper off a dry wall, but rather a sort of mitosis, or splitting of cells. If there are two of us that are like minded, how much more effective are we if we are in two places rather than one. The great thing about mitosis is, eventually you will get to the place where there is another growth, or bonding experience that can split again. And we’re all still part of the same body anyway!
Even though I will continue to be a little sad 
every time I see good company move on, I am at least comforted by the thought that someone else will now get to enjoy it. And every departure makes way for a new arrival.
on April 16th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Farewell Bowmans!!! Those who await you are surely blessed!
on April 17th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Nice to see you looking for the silver lining bro. Always the right perspective.
on April 17th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Nice use of a smiley face.
on April 20th, 2007 at 12:31 am
So what about those of us who aren’t called away? What part do we play if we stay? In all the “post modern rhetoric” what about the settlers? What contribution do we make if we aren’t in the bars, coffee shops or house churches? What if we aren’t students? What if we don’t surf? Going is great and necessary for some, but for others stability and maturity mean faithfulness in loving, serving, and demonstrating Kingdom life in the most ordinary, invisable places…..selah
on April 20th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Bunny,
The point of this is not that I think all should be journeying away from one place to another, but rather a reflection on how the kingdom is expanded through His people. I think that the settlers are the most foundational part of the kingdom. Without them, nothing would get built. Because, (to quote Graham Cooke) “pioneers are flipping useless at building ANYTHING!” When I said that I think the movement into house churches, coffee shops and bars is a necessary one, I mean that it is something that is needing to happen in the kingdom; not that everyone ought to be doing it. Loving, serving and demonstrating kingdom life are crucial to the body of Christ, and are always going to be needed in any community. But I still think that those people will experience departure from loved ones in the kingdom. Which is mainly what I am talking about here. Do you disagree?
on April 20th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I know exactly what you meant and what you think….my purpose was (and is) to challenge and provoke more than superficial thought regarding ‘trendy’ perspectives on Kingdom life….
on April 23rd, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I like you guys…