Do Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly. by Lena Hooker
Micah 6:8. This was the theme of our retreat from this past weekend. We gathered with ten other Fellows programs across the western region of the country. And y’all, can I just say, it was such a life-giving experience. Over one hundred other recent graduates are in the same crazy stage of life as us! How encouraging! It was beautiful to worship, play, and fellowship with everyone. We were challenged to think through our opinion on the Church’s relationship with social justice, and it was convicting. I’m not giving many specifics because I’m not very good at it, but I’m just trying to convey the sweetness of the weekend. God is good, and we get to do all things for His Kingdom. #blessed. If you can’t tell, there’s a lot I still need to unpack.
ANYWAY,
The trip was timely for this moment in my Fellows journey. I’ve been wrestling—I don’t even know if it’s that aggressive—with the concept of Church, whether the institution, building, or body. Not only is it integral to what we do as Nashville Fellows, it’s central to everything we do, in life, as Christians. That may not be a very popular opinion right now, but through the program, we’ve been reading and hearing a lot about the significance of the (big C) Church over the past few months. I’ve been processing it, but something about this weekend brought the image out so clearly to me.
All eleven Fellows Programs present at the Micah 6:8 Retreat represent a local community, in which they work for the flourishing of its people. While we’re here in Nashville, it’s easy for me to forget other Fellows in Colorado Springs are serving the Kingdom just like us. Our little cohort is filled with friends becoming family who uplift, encourage, and rejoice together. This becomes so much more beautiful when I realize the bigger purpose we are serving. As Fellows, we further the integrity of The Fellows Initiative, and ultimately, the honor of our Lord. He is using our hands, minds, and spirits for good in our communities, whether it’s three hours or three states away.
Standing in our meeting room this weekend, I was reminded of how small I am. I’m just one ordinary person, but God uses me. To think, if one person from each program simply didn’t show up, the whole would suffer. This is the Body of Christ, and we so need one another. We hear the hand cannot say to the eye, “You don’t matter,” but do we understand? I’m not saying anything profound, only reminding us (but mostly myself) of what is true. Most of the time, God just asks us to show up. When we do, the world notices. We didn’t prepare anything (besides the amazing vid @anna) for this weekend. We drove up, not even knowing the schedule. But man, we got to receive the beautiful gift of community with God’s people. I’m tempted to say it was an escape from reality, but I would actually argue it was a little taste of heaven. When we show up and work, things happen. Each of us living a Micah 6:8 life in the way of the Master, one by one, can change the world. Bold claim; I stand by it.
