The Vulnerability of True Fellowship

In 2006 Facebook came on the scene and suddenly we were thrust into a new world of connections.

These connections were different from those we were used to. I remember the excitement of having a

forum to touch base with people that I hadn’t even thought of in years. I found myself receiving friend

requests from people I really wasn’t even friends with in high school but it was intriguing to peek into

their lives. How did they look now? What career were they in and who did they marry?

At first I must admit that I felt a new sense of belonging. Friendships were renewed and I can even say

that I felt loved. But was I? Wow, these people even remembered my birthday. Or did they? Didn’t they

just see a reminder on Facebook that alerted them to my special day?

I was wasting so much time scrolling through the site only to find myself, 2 hours later, still searching for

something that would enrich my life.

Another interesting thing happened during this time; the old snare of comparison. Why don’t I look as

good as she does? Why doesn’t my dinner turn out that lovely? And even worse, my grand-babies’ other

grandparents get to spend so much more time with them than I do.

Suddenly what once felt like a genuine love connection left me quite depressed.

I don’t know if you have had similar experiences with the world of social media but it was not a positive

influence for me. I gave up Facebook many years ago. For me it had become a “fake fellowship.”

Enter 2019 and the world was hit with the Corona Virus. Such fear of the unknown. And again our

connections were rocked. Social distancing was the new call to arms. Don’t get close. Don’t touch.

Don’t hug. Suspect that anyone you are with can infect you with this awful virus. This played with my

emotions so much as well. Irregardless of your opinion of how the pandemic was handled by the

authorities, I think we can all agree that the isolation it created was damaging to relationships on many

levels. In some ways it became easy to hide and pull away from people. I think that the experiences of

the last two and a half years have left us with “fractured fellowship”.

As I was desiring to begin a meaningful ministry to encourage moms, my daughters insisted that I start a

website, and my son encouraged me to write monthly on different topics of interest to mothers. Wow,

this was way out of my comfort zone. Not being an embracer of the modern age of social media, it was

a difficult concept to accept. I am not a fan of having my picture taken anymore and I am more

comfortable being behind the scenes. A website? The last thing I want is to make this all about me.

Then another daughter said to me, “If you want to invite women into your world and encourage moms

then you need to allow yourself to be vulnerable.” I thought on this statement quite a bit. I think she is

right! I am tired of fake surface level fellowship and saddened by fractured fellowship. It is time to work

toward true fellowship.

In the early days of the church Acts 2 records that the believers devoted themselves to fellowship. This

fellowship was extremely intimate. The church was united, spent time with each other, and gave to each

other. They were aware of each other’s needs and filled them.

They met daily and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. To have this true fellowship a person

would need to be vulnerable, not hiding weaknesses but being open, honest, and gracious with each

other.

As we begin the Home Builders ministry I pray that this effort will lead to this kind of fellowship among

the moms who participate. I pray this will be a safe place where we can be real with each other and truly

grow in love for each other. I pray our goals are to always help and encourage each other in the

challenging task of motherhood. I pray grace and genuine connections will develop. I hope you will join

me in nurturing a true fellowship.