I am a dad of young boys. That means that I am often in a debate about what family movie we should watch. I usually pick Trolls which includes the mega hit, ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ by Justin Timberlake. Can you hear it? Just like great books, great songs capture something in all of us that can be difficult to describe. At the heart of being human is a desire to make certain feelings visible. We have all sensed it. When we get angry, we feel moved to act. If you are in love, well you’ve got to put a ring on it.  If you sense justice is at stake, we serve, we give, we speak up.  Feelings, when they take root, must be expressed outwardly; they become visible.

Where do you belong?
Over the past few months, I have been thinking of the feeling of belonging. The long stretch of isolation has stirred us to the importance of our need for intimate relationships and community. As a spiritual leader, I have had numerous conversations with people trying to put into words that hunger to belong in a safe way. One person, struggling with depression, reminded me that our numerous digital contacts is no substitute for true belonging, for real community.

Do you feel like you have a place where you belong? Have you sensed that deep need to be anchored somewhere deeper in a world of constant ups and downs? I have at times. For that reason, I want to encourage you to decide today that you are going to do something with those feelings of wanting to belong. What is your next step? How might you need to move and commit to belong, rather than just sit with those feelings? Remember, feelings take root and move us to action. 

Belonging to Become
Maybe, this pandemic has taught us we must all play our part in a type of belonging we all desire. If we are honest, belonging is meant to lead us to maturity; a type of maturity that pushes us past a momentary feeling. That means we when we experience true belonging, we grow to find our place among others who are different than us.

The courageous step to true belonging involves becoming a better listener, a better learner. This leads to better friendship. In fact, I have seen how those who take a step beyond the feelings of belonging often grow impatient with those who are different. The spiritual gift of it all is that belonging leads to becoming someone new.

As I write this, we have been hit with our next wave of COVID-19 restrictions. I am hopeful that we are past the worst of it as you read this. The slow re-opening of our most cherished community spaces might be the best time for you to move past the feeling of belonging, to desiring to become a different kind of person as well.

I got this feeling you are tired of pretending to belong and are ready to become that kind of person that invites others to experience new friendships, new faith and hope for our families. Moving in this direction is at the heart of any flourishing city.