He pulled his own weight while there - so as not to be burden upon others. "For you remember our labor and toil, brethren; we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the gospel of God." Paul didn't pop in, and just tell the stories of Jesus; he lived them and he lived life among those with whom he shared this amazing Good News.
He cared for them, "like a nurse taking care of her children." He goes on to say, "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."
Remember our talk last Wednesday - about Christian Community? This is another marker of what it means to be part of a community of Christ. We share not only the information, but our very lives. We integrate our future with the futures of those around us. We share not only the gospel of God, but our very selves.
Over lunch yesterday, a first year student expressed anxiety about an upcoming final in one of those 1-0-something overview/intro courses. A graduating student acknowledged their plans to be in the LCM Lounge, studying after our student exam meal. "Bring your notes and I will see if I can help." This is a horribly busy week for all of us - but amid our stress and work, we continue to remember Christ's call to share "our own selves."
There are lots of people in the world trying to tell me what I need to know (according to them.) Those who impact my life are those who not only speak to me, but labor along side me to build a life and craft a future - a future in which all of us are lifted up.
Having "become very dear to us," we love our brothers and sisters and we look out for them and lighten their load and share with them what we know and our very lives.
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