Follow Up Smoke

Today I planned an event, a distanced event, that required a coordinated effort at the end of setting off smoke cannons. Six people spread out in a yard (6' from each other) and on the count of three they were to twist the cannons and smoke would fill the air. 1...2..3

Instead of synchronized colored smoke filling the air, we had syncopated smoke with a small delayed follow up at the end. Here is the best part. While the plan was different, the impact was the same. The sky was filled with a beautiful explosion of smoke. What a celebration! It was great to be together even if the smoke wasn't.

I spend most of these days alone, lately. I work from home and will for a bit since the extra load of video production works better in the solitude. But I am not built for solitude. The other day I read an article that said introverts are probably in less of a rush to return to the world for work, socializing and religious activities while extroverts are more than ready to face the world, mask or no mask. I love the work I am doing, even if it isn't what I signed up for but I still love being with people most. 

We need each other. review the smoke pictures. First two go off, then another and another. All have discharged except for my little friend, Wyatt's. Those canons are hard to twist and for small hands it is near impossible. Although, one person, with one canon, of one color would have been nice, interesting, it would never have had the celebratory intent of the six canons going off. Check out little Wyatt's face. He seems bothered that he is unable to achieve his task. But his Dad swoops in to help out and BOOM - blue smoke! A beautiful cloud that stands out as the others fade away.

 Worship is like that. Alone we can worship. We can lift our voice, our heart, our eyes to God. We can lift God's name in great praise. But worship together has more power, more beauty, more dimensions. Together there is more power to our praise. We bring different aspects to our praise as we come as individuals and blend them with what others bring. And when others are fading, together we have endless praise as those that begin later are there to follow up.

As I study I am mindful of a passage in the book of Hebrews. The Christ follower that wrote the letter to the Hebrew Christians is asking them to persevere in their faith. we are not completely sure why they needed the urging but it is clear that it had become dangerous to gather and tempting to those to go it alone. The passage asked them to motivate and encourage one another and not give up on gathering. It is almost as if to give up on gathering is to give up on each other. 

What if that little blue cannon guy was out there all alone. Now Wyatt has a plethora of gifts even if twisting the smoke canon isn't one of them. Alone there would have been no blue smoke...no smoke at all. If Wyatt had not been there, who would his dad have helped? we would have had no follow up smoke. We need each other. 

Gathering comes in many forms. The gathering mentioned in this passage comes from using your gifts to help others grow their gifts. But note, this is a letter written to people by someone that is not with them. Let me repeat - the writer of the letter in not in the same place as the readers of the letter. The writer is encouraging them; supporting them. Gathering is taking place in that sense. He has gathered with them in spirit and in love.

As you are home by yourself or with immediate family, are you still gathering? Encouraging? Supporting? Teaching? Sharing? That is what God asks, that is what God requires. Some of you are getting together with others in a church building, but are you really gathering? What support or encouragement do you give? Are you being the church or just going to church? 

Today:

• Help someone shine (or smoke)
• Try to do something that is hard
• Prepare for worship tomorrow by making a plan of who you will really support and encourage