Created to Belong
By Jill Newman
Evan Hansen was lonely. Who knew that high school would be even worse than middle school?! He still had no friends, and his single mom was so busy working nights and going to school during the day that she rarely had time for him anymore. She just kept at him to write those positive motivational “Dear Evan” letters to himself that his therapist had recommended. And, since he had fallen out of that tree a couple weeks ago, he’d had to walk into the first day of school with a stupid cast on his arm like a doofus! It didn’t help that Connor, the obnoxious school bully, had written his name in huge letters on it, and then stole the “Dear Evan” letter he was working on! Now the absolute worst had happened. Connor was gone forever, and his family had found the letter, believing Connor had written it to Evan. And that they were friends of all things?! The huge CONNOR scrawled on his cast didn’t help matters either. Turned out Connor’s parents really didn’t know their own son and thought Evan could fill them in, being his best buddy and all. Not! The biggest problem of all was that Connor’s family was so nice to Evan. It made it really difficult to tell them the truth about their relationship. Or the lack thereof. And, so he kept putting it off. In the weeks that followed, Evan found himself eating dinner with Connor’s family almost every night, and spending weekends hanging out at their house. After all, this was what Evan had been looking for his whole life - a mom who was always there because ‘Mom’ was her only job, a dad who took the time to teach him little things, like how to break in a baseball glove, and a sister who saw him as he was and liked him anyway. What was he supposed to do?
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And so begins the hit Broadway musical, Dear Evan Hansen, about a lonely kid looking for a place to belong. I think the reason this show became so popular is because it speaks to a hunger that we all have inside, a longing for that perfect family or community where we are truly accepted and loved.
God designed us to be in complete and loving families. But, unfortunately, the world is broken, and for many of us, that just doesn’t exist at home. This is where the church can make a difference. Belonging to a body of believers opens the door to a variety of different relationships that may be lacking in our lives, with each member of the body utilizing the gifts and talents that God has given to them. Older, mature believers can be godly mentors for younger people, offering a listening ear and words of wisdom. Spiritually growing teens can be big brothers and sisters for younger kids that are lonely and needing encouragement.
We were created for community, a place to belong and a place to be accepted. One of the best ways we can connect with others and build friendships is by serving together. Working alongside each other towards a common goal builds camaraderie within the team, as we laugh, learn and grow together. Each of us has been blessed by God with unique gifts and talents. His will is for us to develop and share those gifts with others, especially within the body of Christ. And, in so doing, we build around us a community where we truly belong.
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.” Romans 12:4-6a
REFLECTION
Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Peter 4:10-11
Pray and ask God to show you the spiritual gifts and special talents He has given to you.
Write them down.
Start a list of ways that you can share your gifts with others in the church, as well as at home and in your local community.
Psalm 68:6 tells us that God sets the lonely in families. If you don’t currently have a home church, pray that the Lord would direct you to one where you can connect with others, grow in your faith and serve the body with your gifts.