By Sarah De Coste When we hear the word cliques, I imagine we all think of the same thing. You automatically think of different groups of people, you think of the preppy kids, the nerds, the theatre kids, the artsy kids, the popular crowd, the (insert stereotype here) We know what cliques are, we can see them and recognize them. But we often don't understand how deep cliques can go. A clique isn't just the stereotype of people that are deemed as X,Y or Z in school. Because if that was the case then a clique would simply be describing factor about someone. For example, they like to draw, they're artsy, or they play soccer, they're sporty, or even they do well in school, they are smart. But cliques don't do that, cliques say that the person is all these things, cliques say that a person is this and that and this. Cliques say that a person doesn't just like something, or enjoys something but it defines them, and divides them. Now to understand the depths of Cliques and how this is even related to our faith we are going to dive into some scripture. In spiritual direction I was given the homework of reading Corinthians for prayer. The book of Corinthians is a letter from Paul to the people in Corinth. The reason he wrote this letter was to guide and instruct and also call out some of the people for how they’ve been acting. The people in Corinth began to become divided. They started to miss the message of Christ, and his power and started to attribute it to people. They started to worship people not god. They were saying “I follow Paul” I follow Apollos” I follow Peter” and others “I follow Christ” Paul continues and says “Christ has been divided into groups. Did Paul die on the cross for you? Were you baptised as Paul's disciples?” The main issue was their misunderstanding of WHO Jesus is, and the role that his followers, and apostles and disciples played in people's lives. In short Jesus is God...Paul is not. Paul straightens them out with that theology, yet there is more to his message than just correcting their theology. He notes that their division caused many issues. Which brings us back to cliques. See division only happens when we let differences become an excuse to divide. When we think of how people are different it should be beautiful, we are all unique, embracing our differences takes away pressure from competing, and comparing ourselves, we are able to delight in ourselves more fully and are able to thrive in our own skin. We should delight in our differences and the beauty in how we are all unique, like the snowflake analogy, no two snowflakes are the same right?Let's dive into that analogy. We are all snowflakes, unique and different. Like if you took two snowflakes you would see all the ways they are different, the shapes and sizes and designs all incredibly unique, but what about the similarities? They’re both still snowflakes, they’re both made of snow, they still melt when the sun hits them, and are thrown about by the wind. Although they are different in design, and features, they are the same in essence. It’s the same with us. We can look at anyone and note all the differences in appearance alone, and when we get to know someone more we see more of how they’re different, from their likes to dislikes, their hobbies, their family life, their passions and interests. Their hopes and dreams, their goals. We are all different, and in those differences there also remains similarities. Maybe you will find similarities in your outer appearance, maybe there will be similarities in interests, and hobbies, and goals and dreams, but there's always something deeper. Think of someone you know or even just know that is like a complete opposite from you. Someone who likes all the different things. Who looks totally opposite. Now on the surface you see nothing familiar, but there are personal similarities that you could find, I bet they’ve laughed so hard that they almost couldn’t breathe. That they’ve had nightmares, that they have a favourite scent, that they’ve cried themselves to sleep before. That they’ve laughed in a moment they were supposed to be serious in. That they have a favourite song they can't help but dance too. That they have hopes and dreams, and fears, and doubts. That they have felt loved, they that have felt excluded. That they know heartbreak, and have been let down. That they have a favourite day, that they have funny quirks, that there is a topic that they light up when talking about. When it comes down to it, we're far more similar than we realize. Maybe some exact details will vary, yet our humanity ties us together, and more than just the things i've already mentioned. Our humanity is more than our experiences; it's rooted in our own design, Scripture says we are made in the image and likeness of God. That doesn't mean just christians, just people who believe in God. It means EVERYONE. Every. Single. Person. Everyone is made in the image and likeness of God, and in that we can find the deepest of connections. When we focus on cliques, it allows the differences we see to divide us, and that can only cause pain. IE oh there in choir they must not play sports. When differences divide us we put people into boxes, and we don't allow someone to be themself, we try to put them into a box and maybe even put ourselves there. Saying I'm in this group so i'm not supposed to be friends with anyone in that group. I go to this school so i hate everyone in that school, I do this so I don’t do that. WHY?! SAYS WHO?! That isn't how it has to be and it isn't how it's meant to be. Have you ever experienced division in your family? Your class, on a team, or even in friend groups? Loyalties change, people change, people grow and mold, people are invited in and left out, and emotions take control. What is accomplished? More trauma for us to deal with? More pain and agony? More hurts? More wounds? It's not needed, and it's able to be avoided. Paul tries to teach us this in 1 Corinthians 1:10 he says “Be completely united, with only one thought, and one purpose.” What is your focus on? What's truly important. Look at the time we're in right now. What's the most important thing? Aside from toilet paper and soap it would be Family, health, love? When it comes down to what we actually need in life it isn’t fried chicken, it isn’t the newest fads or trends, it isn’t being popular or liked. Its community, and fellowship, its having a safe place to rest, its having love, and health and family whether its made by blood or through friends. It’s important to treat others with kindness, to be respectful and appreciated, within our differences. So at this time what can you do? I'd say reach out to people, this is a great time to genuinely get to know new people, maybe it's by playing a game online, or it's through posting trivia or things on social media. But also look ahead. When we leave social distancing, when we get to interact again. Are you willing to build bridges between groups? To reach out your hand to your friends? Are you confident that you are loved and not in competition? Often we think that our friends having other friends means we are replaced. It's like if someone loves two people that means the love they have for you is lessened. Like our love, our friendships are like cookies, if someone's love for you is a cookie, and then they make another friend they have to split the cookie in half. That's not love, that's not friendship, there is no measuring cup amount of love. There is no limit to friendship. What you may share is time, but not love, not memories, or friendships. So when we are able to be with the people we love again, reach out. Bridge those divides and join together in common unity….COMMUNITY. PEACE Are you wanting to see this talk in video format? Check it out on our Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-K8GORh-Gf/
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When I was in junior high and was first learning about this gift, I felt as though I had a very clear idea about what is, but I had no idea how to put it into words. People would even bring it into conversations and I would be nodding along as though "yeah, I know what that means," while thinking about the different kinds of pie I would rather be eating than discussing piety. The truth is, I had absolutely no idea what it meant to live with piety, let alone what the word itself meant! Piety is a gift in which we are enabled to live lives of virtue, which is the essence of being a saint. Piety allows us to follow Him with loyalty through all things. Embracing true piety alongside humility will lead us well along the way to acting in full accordance to God’s will. Pope Francis spoke on this idea of “true piety” a few years ago. This can be seen in the video below. In becoming a more pious person, one must continue to develop their relationship with God. One of the ways this can be done is through different prayer devotions. You may have heard in your life someone say “I have a Marian devotion,” or “I have a devotion to the Rosary,” or maybe even about a saint. What this means is that this person has found that they are able to connect with God through this very regular spiritual practice of asking a particular saint to pray for them or for a specific way of prayer, such as the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, or even novenas (nine days of intentional prayer about a cause, typically asking for a particular saint to pray with you for your intention in a more formal way).
We have explored the tenets of Lent this year (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving) at Pulse. We have talked about how fasting is a great way to grow in our faith: in giving something up, often something difficult, in order to help us to turn to God with thankfulness of what we have. With almsgiving, we are giving what we have to others in need. With prayer, we are giving up our time to be with our God who made us, loves us, and wants us to know Him more. This Lent has already brought us to give so much up that it seems that all we have left is time. My challenge for you is to take some of that time, go to God in prayer, and spend some time with Him. This can be through formed prayers, spontaneous prayers (just talking to Him), or even offering up the work we are doing to Him. We also need to take the time to listen to what He is saying back to us. The more time we spend with God, the greater we can grow to understand ourselves. What better time is there to devote ourselves to prayer than when we are spending this time away from others? |
PulsePulse is our Jr High group (Grades 6-9) for those who want to be journeying to learn more about God and how He fits into this crazy thing called life! From Saint of the Day to talks to activities, we work to understand more about our faith and its importance in our everyday lives as we all work to become modern day saints. Categories
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