LIVING ROOM’S OPEN DOOR –

Jesus was a radical in the way he treated social outcasts like prostitutes, the poor, the sick, lepers and others. He treated them in a way that was completely contrary to social conventions of the day. Christ’s love brought a sense of dignity and value to those on the margins. As leaders of faith-based support groups, we are called to love as he did.

What I most appreciate about Jesus is his humility. When caregivers use his attitude as their example something special happens to the care they provide. They don’t consider themselves above those they care for. Individuals with such love have a genuine desire to be there for people in need, treating them as equals. Love comes naturally and easily.

I often said a simple prayer before going into a meeting. I would spend a few quiet moments and earnestly ask Jesus to fill me with his love and to help me share that love with others. Often that’s all it takes to bring out the genuinely kind and caring attitude I needed as I facilitated my group. It helped me enter meetings feeling the quiet Spirit of Christ in me.

Something we clearly see in Jesus’ life and teachings is the way he included people that everyone else left out. He welcomed everyone to his table. He understood them and had empathy. Jesus was able to walk as one with them. As peers with similar problems, we too will have some understanding of what others go through and will be able to have empathy.

The Bible tells about how Jesus healed a demon-possessed man living in a graveyard—a person most would stay clear of. But Jesus showed how even a man like this deserves mercy, dignity, and kindness. (Mark 5:1-20)

No matter how far beyond hope the people we lead seem to be, we need to treat them as people for whom there is hope. Love may not always heal the body or mind, but it will heal the heart. Too often people with severe problems are regarded as worthless. But from Christ’s perspective every human being has great worth. It is important for leaders of Open Door groups to remind their members of this.

Jesus was motivated by compassion and love. A good facilitator will treat the members of their group with such compassion too, filling their needs for acceptance, kindness, and encouragement. Being there for a person needing care when he is sick or lonely is one of the most loving things we can do. And it’s through such giving of ourselves that we will find ourselves blessed.

marja