All humans journey with loneliness, experiencing it in varying degrees, at different times in our lives. We’re in this together. But most of us - all of us? - do NOT enjoy this feeling in any way, and why would we? Most of us usually do everything we can to avoid it. We even avoid talking about the “L” word, or admitting that we are lonely. This is quite reasonable of us, considering how deeply painful and isolating chronic loneliness is. And yet…what if loneliness, as soul-sucking as it can be, can offer us something? Could the Jesus path include loneliness in ways that are freeing and creative? Could it even be a key to the Good Life? I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we engage with scripture, research, statistics and a meme or two, along with some of my most (un)shining moments of connection and togetherness as we explore this possibility, and dare to face The Lonely Road.

Well, this is a bit awkward after the week we have had. I didn’t plan it this way. Or maybe I did? I can’t remember now, but as we continue to pursue the flourishing life, we come to a bridge that may feel too far to pass. Jesus instructs us to “love our enemies.” Of all weeks to head there, this is the one? I am afraid so. Mark Twain once quipped, “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it’s the parts that I do understand.” That certainly rings true for where we are headed. But this teaching isn’t meant to bother us. Rather, Jesus’ teaching is about directing us to the good life. How in the world does loving enemies lead to flourishing? Well, let’s explore that together on Sunday.

Sometimes I feel as though I have the word ‘sucker’ written on my forehead. Kristen likes to say I am every salesperson’s dream. I haven’t met an upgrade or extended warranty I have passed on. I can be easily taken advantage of. Which is why Jesus’ next teaching about the Good Life initially feels a little disconcerting to me. I am referring of course to the “turn the other cheek” passage in the Sermon on the Mount. It starts with Jesus referencing one of humanities oldest laws (the eye for eye bit) and moves to not resisting evil people. The examples Jesus uses to illustrate what this might look like involve getting slapped twice (at least), finding yourself naked without any clothes, walking a lot, and lending a lot of people money. On the surface, it sounds like a recipe for people like me getting walked all over. Ah, but naturally, there is whole lot more going on here. And we are in for quite the ride. We will need to explore the earliest human laws we have on record and why implementing those laws still seems beyond us (think Ukraine and the Middle East). I will need to tell you about the anxiety I experience when getting my oil changed, my mission to stop Amazon thieves, and what to do when an elderly couple backs into your car. We also have plenty of stops to make within Scripture, from what David did when he caught Saul using the bathroom, to a question from the apostle Paul that I find to be both wise and hard to swallow, and of course, why Jesus’ instructions here are not only wise, but psychologically astute as well. If we can begin to master what Jesus is getting at in this teaching, we will be well on our way to the good and flourishing life.