In May and June, Toni Ruth and I (and Richard) will be preaching a series based on Paul's letter to the Galatians called #thestruggleisreal. During this series, I'm going to be posting regularly with some brief thoughts on various passages from Galatians. I hope that you follow along as we look for God's grace in the midst of some very real struggles!
Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's
burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
I'm not sure how
many times I've heard it from older people, when it comes to their family.
Typically in a nursing home or from those who are dealing with long-term health
issues: "I just don't want to be a burden."
I've heard several
older people deploy the "I don't want to be a burden" statement like
a well-aimed, highly effective guilt bomb.
Most of the time, however, this statement comes from a legitimate place
of pain and a keen sense of loss.
Suddenly, it must
seem, the one who has been the caregiver, the provider, the protector finds
themselves in a position where the person(s) that they provided and cared for
are now caring for them. This new situation brings up a mix of emotions: guilt,
frustration, sadness, grief. And while there can certainly be a great deal of
love, gratitude, and joy that is shared, it's also not uncommon (especially
when it comes to people struggling with the early stages of dementia) for there
to be feelings of resentment, distrust, and dismissiveness. It's a very hard place to be and very hard
thing to feel.
Paul teaches us that
followers of the Way of Jesus need to become pros at burden-bearing. It's a very difficult thing that Paul is
asking us to do: share our burdens with another. Embrace the fact that you will
need to carry someone else's burden.
I'm cool with that.
In fact, doing that helps me to feel useful and needed. Within reason, of
course, I ain't Superman. But, that's why Paul is speaking to the community as
a whole and not just certain individuals. We are to be burden-bearing and
burden-sharing. Many hands makes light work...
 |
| No, I don't need help Why do you ask? |
That would be too
personal, too needy, too weak. Which is
fine for all you other people, but not for me. I've gotta stand on my own two
feet. You don't need to trouble yourself
with me, you've got enough on your plate. I
don't want to be a burden.
Maybe Paul didn't
know what he was really asking of us, instructing us to reveal our struggles
and our weaknesses to one another. What
am I supposed to do? Just blurt out my problems to the people at my church, in
my small group, in my Sunday school class?
Yes.
As Christians, we
are called by God to be people of Truth. And a lot of times we fail
spectacularly at answering that call.
But maybe if we are honest with one another and do the hard work of
sharing the burdens that we're carrying, maybe we can learn something about
trust, about being humble servants like Jesus. I'm not saying that be truthful
about your burdens and allowing others to help shoulder the load won't be a
struggle - it will be.
But maybe in sharing
one another's burdens, we begin to see some growth peeking up through the
concrete that too often surrounds our hearts: some love, a little sprout of
joy, the first signs of peace, a sprig of patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
As followers of the
Way of Jesus, we are called to be honest with one another and to love one
another in the midst of our brokenness.
To bear each other's burdens with patience and mercy and grace. You know, just like Jesus, who took the form
of a slave, carried our burdens, and gave himself for us.
What a witness that
can be in our world.
