I sat in the unfamiliar church with my husband and daughter. Someone was already sitting on the other end of the pew. As the service began, a couple approached that end of the pew, prompting the other person to move toward us. The cushion on the pew shifted, slightly moving each of us. As the couple sat down, the pew seat slightly shifted again.

The pew was solidly secured into the floor, but the cushion wasn’t firmly attached to the pew. Each time someone moved, it felt as if the pew was slightly moving.

It’s like any church community, whether they use pews, chairs or bean bag chairs in their worship services. No matter how firmly grounded a community is, they will affect each other as they move. People affect one another as they do life together.

Sometimes the shifting is annoying. Other times it wakes us up, alerting us to something that needs our attention. The shift might make us uncomfortable. It might prompt us to shift our own weight so we can sit more comfortably.

No matter how firmly grounded we are, we’re impacted by people around us. God created us for community. He created us for relationship. And the truth is – we don’t always get to choose with whom we have relationships. We try to control as many factors as we can to have the relationships and build the community we most want.

• Perhaps you would prefer to sit in a pew by yourself. You sit on the edge and avoid eye contact, hoping people will pass you by. Remember: God doesn’t need to move you in order to move you. Even if someone doesn’t slip beside you via the entryway you’re controlling, there is more than one way for people to reach you. No one lives in complete isolation.
• Perhaps you try to control your environment in an attempt for everything to run smoothly. You ignore anyone or anything in your life that is challenging or contrary to what you want or think is best. Remember: We grow through the pruning process. We’re shaped as iron sharpens iron. God can mold us even when we’re clinging to control. He won’t yield for us, but he will certainly use our experiences to draw us closer to him.
• Perhaps you see only the negative around you. You feel the shifting of weight and are annoyed anyone would dare to invade your space. Remember: The world doesn’t revolve around you. Every shift and annoyance is not targeting you personally. When people come together, they will bump against each other. God impacts each person within any relationship through any relationship. When the pew shifts, you might think it’s because of the other person moving, but it wouldn’t shift in the exact same way without you being just where you are. You are impacted, but you are also impacting.

Your pew will shift today. How will you respond?

As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other. Proverbs 27:17