What does it mean to belong?

 

Today, as I reflected on a couple of passages from the Bible, I was again struck by how frustrated the Israelites were as they continued the journey to the Promised Land.  Very clearly, they were close to the breaking point.  They grumbled and complained against God and Moses and just wanted it to be over!  God was disappointed in their perceived lack of faith and trust and sent down a painful punishment upon them in the form of seraph serpents.  Then the Israelites begged forgiveness for their impatience and disloyalty.  God relented, forgave them and in turn, the Israelites promised obedience and trust in God’s unconditional love and mercy.

We’ve all had moments of impatience and frustration in our lives when we failed to see the hand of our loving God or hear and believe in the Good News that’s staring us right in the face.  We’re a privileged people who should never want for anything, but instead time and time again we’re never satisfied and grumble and complain that life is so unfair.  The grass always looks greener on the other side, the glass is always half empty.  We want warm weather, but not too warm.  We look forward to that long-awaited vacation until the plane is late or gas prices are too high forcing us to go to plan B which may not be as much fun or convenient.  We become just like the Israelites in a flash!

“He [Jesus] said to them, ‘You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above.  You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.’” [John 8:21-30]

How often do we think about belonging?  And what does it mean to belong?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says a sense of belonging indicates a close or intimate relationship.  Some psychologists say a sense of belonging involves gaining acceptance, attention and support from members of a group and providing that same attention to other members of that group. A sense of belonging is part of what motivates human behavior.

In the Book of Numbers, the people were members of the group ‘children of Israel,’ and it seems they knew they belonged as followers of God and Moses because they complained about their situation to both God and Moses [Numbers 21:4-9].

But this membership didn’t make up for the fact that they belonged to their earthly bodies and needs as well, and they lost hope in God’s love and concern in the face of hunger and thirst.  This is actually somewhat understandable because two of the primary needs upon which all others rest are food and water.  But  perhaps given all that God had done for them up to that point, they could have summoned enough faith in their belongingness to God to trust that God would come through for them yet again.

But what about us? To whom or what do we belong?

We may belong to many groups, such as our families, our friends, special-interest groups and faith communities.  We like to think we belong to Jesus, that we belong to God’s kingdom, to “what is above,” but sometimes we have to admit we may be a bit too enamored with the here and now.  Still, we would probably balk at thinking we belong “to what is below” “or “to this world,” as Jesus chastises the Pharisees.

Do we primarily belong to the need to fulfill our own desires, or do we demonstrate our belonging to what is above with care for others, as Jesus tell us?  “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” [John 13:35]

Do we belong to caring for God’s gift of the Earth and helping it survive and thrive, or do we belong to the mindset of continuing wastefulness and ignorance in the face of new realities?

Some days we may do a better job than other days, but it's worth thinking about and reflecting upon. Belonging is important, and it might be helpful to ruminate on the question, “To whom or what do I belong?” regularly in our minds and hearts.

During this Lenten season, we’re called to put aside our self-centered ways.  We’re called to look in the mirror and see ourselves as God sees us.  We’re called to be people of compassion, mercy and love, to see the face of God in our sisters and brothers who suffer injustice, illness, homelessness and prejudices.  Jesus is a forgiving and loving God who calls us to embody that love and concern for all those around us who are at that breaking point that the Israelites found themselves in when the journey became too long and difficult.