" The natural family and the spiritual family seem to need one another for correct image, focus and direction. The natural family without the spiritual family becomes isolated, insulated, inbred and without vision. The spiritual family (the Church) without the natural family has become cold, ideological, impersonal, task oriented and unable to carry out its purposes."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 363)
Today, we had two baptisms at church. I love baptisms. Families gather for a happy occasion. The gift of a child being celebrated in the context of community. Both babies that were baptized this morning have been regular attendees before today. There was no "getting the kid done." In many ways they were surrounded by 100 other grandparents, uncles, aunts, and siblings.
I've been blessed to have both good natural families and good spiritual ones. Not perfect mind you, but still strong enough to bring about real growth.
It is easy to get trapped into everything being about the kids, or even about church. The true balance is when both are feeding each other.
I try to create a spiritual home where the natural families can be together for a time and see themselves in a larger context.
I think when the spiritual family loses sight of its need to serve others, in this case families, and cannot adapt to the changing needs of these folks, it is signing its own death warrant. The struggle is to keep our core identity as a spiritual family while meeting the changing needs of the natural families that come through our doors.
Blessings,
Ed
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