Carpet Loops
In my Independence Day blog, I mentioned that we can imagine what the impact of one person is. The most vivid time that I was able to do so was a few years after I became a Christian.
I was in one of my first Small Group experiences–visiting a group that met at the church building. I knew two people there and was pretty nervous about the whole thing. I don’t remember what Scripture we talked about, nor who was in the room, except for one moment.
Chris was leading the study as we sat in a circle on the floor. He was talking about the impact that one person can have. Sure, we each have a few friends–some of us had two, others twenty, others more. But he looked down at the carpet we were sitting on. It was brightly colored–each loop was a different color. He reached down and pointed to one of the loops.
“If this is you, and you are able to share Christ’s love with the loops that are touching you–the people who are in your life–and they do the same, how quickly might we reach this whole room?”
The answer was apparent. All of a sudden, each member of my family, friend at school, or casual acquaintance became a loop in my life–someone that perhaps I could share Jesus’ love with in a compelling way.
But what about those who don’t end up being touched? If there is an island of loops that don’t connect to the others because of time, distance, or if the sharing stops somewhere?
I think that’s why in addition to living our lives intentionally and building relationships with people who are currently in our lives, we are also called to reach out to those who aren’t connected. Through service projects, mission trips, serving on your HOA board, or listing your Small Groups as “Open,” you can help connect those loops.
Jen Hurst
Associate Director of Small Groups
jen.hurst@belairpres.org
