Scott, Kelly and me…

Today, at my bud Kary’s Church he played.  Kary took a risk and introduced his congregation to the BTL process of speaking and listening. Instead of giving what they’ve come to expect from Sunday morning service, he gave them a jolt and asked them to play along.  

They played.

I participated in the service by simply being in the pew and connecting to those that happened to choose the same pew as me.  

Random.

I met a couple in both of the services.  The first couple I already knew and I still learned a ton.  We hadn’t connected in years and, actually, I had never really asked them about their kids.  Today, we changed that.  Very cool.

The second couple, in the second service, I had never met.  Today, we changed that.  We connected for about 16 minutes.  I had never seen them before in my 50 years on this planet.  They had never seen me.  We had never spoken a word of English, our native tongue, in each others company.  We were complete strangers.  

Perfect.

As I turned my chair to face the two of them I leaned in to ask which of them would like to start.  Scott and Kelly both jumped in.  Away we went.  Time flew as they told me their deepest held belief that has deeply changed.  Oddly, one of theirs was one of mine.  We shared something.  We were, all of a sudden, more comfortable and more connected.  We felt like we had something in common.  Funny, huh.

The next go, Kary asked us to go deeper.  I love this process.  Humans want to be jolted, just not all of a sudden.  Gradually, and then all of a sudden…

Open.

Before I could ask Scott to go, he went.  Deeper that is.  He told me what had caused his belief change.  He just ripped open his shirt and showed me his scars.  No, not literally, but close enough.  He told me his story and all about the disease that is ravaging his body.  He told me that God had been preparing for this moment.  I asked him to tell me more.  He did.  He told me about their daughter and her disease.  He shared some of his pain and Kelly shared some as well.  Their transparency just blew me away.  

Today, I was reminded that we are all so alike and that we all want to be with another that understands who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re headed.  We all share a universal language regardless of our native tongue.

All humans speak the language of…

PAIN.

And, all humans, no matter how they appear, want to be with another.  All of us are wired to be together, known, and accepted by a community that cares.  Remember, there is only one “l” difference between “alone” and “all one.”  That one “l” is…

LOVE.

Today, Scott, Kelly, and Chet tasted what God wants us all to drink in.  Today, Kary, set us up to experience community.  What an “l” of a difference…

Are you heading toward being alone or ALL ONE?

Tell me more, my friend.

Tell me more…