Spiritual Training Cycle: Connection (wk. 7/13)
In the 80s and 90s, the idealized male action movie star began to include visible abdominal muscles. We witnessed the rise of muscle-bound superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. The “six-pack” became synonymous with health. The six-pack became synonymous with strength. Much to the frustration of fitness trainers and coaches, training for a six-pack often neglected the other key components of core strength. To further the point, you can have visible abs but still have a weak “core.” In much the same way, you can be in a community but still feel disconnected. Others can surround you while you feel isolated and in despair. The core strength of a community is built on gratitude. Gratitude within a community builds Acceptance, Belonging, and Support. Gratitude builds strong “ABS” in community.
A quick anatomy lesson reveals that abdominal strength consists of more than just the visible six-pack muscles. Some muscles support flexing the spine, much like the hailed six-pack, while other muscles support spine stability. Spinal strength is required to create stability while the spine is bent or twisted. Spinal stability is required to brace the body under heavy loads. All these muscles and their coordinated movements create core strength. Any one component being weak can cause serious injury under load. The combined strength of these core muscles creates stability and resilience to injury.
As important as the various types of abs are for core strength, gratitude creates the foundation for “ABS” in community, and is critical to its core strength.
Acceptance
When a community expresses gratitude, it recognizes the value of everyone’s unique contributions, giving them a sense of acceptance. Acceptance becomes a catalyst for creativity and further growth.
Belonging
Gratitude in community takes acceptance even further by building a sense of mutual commitment creating belonging. This communal commitment to gratitude builds a shared sense of identity, values, and purpose ensuring everyone feels like they belong.
Support
Communal gratitude then builds a cycle of giving and receiving which fundamentally changes the way people support each other, leading to deeper trust. Gratitude in community creates stability and resilience.
Jesus always shared gratitude. Before feeding the 5,000 in Matthew 14:19,
“He gave thanks and broke the loaves.”
Before raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11:42:
“Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”
In the Last Supper in Luke 22:17:
“After taking the cup, He gave thanks.”
Jesus never missed an opportunity to show others what gratitude looks like. And Paul’s letter to the Philippians encouraged them to do they same.
Philippians 2:1-2:
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Gratitude is used to build tenderness and compassion for others: acceptance. The acceptance we create makes us one in spirit and like-minded: belonging. Then by being united with Christ, we have ultimate support.
Core strength in fitness requires all aspects of abdominal strength. Core strength in community requires gratitude. When we are united in Christ, we get to share our gratitude which creates deep and meaningful connections with acceptance, belonging, and renewed support.
Questions for Reflection:
Is there a time when you didn’t feel connected within a group? How could gratitude have affected the relationships there?
How can you build gratitude in the communities you’re connected to? At work? In your family? At church?
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