Read: Philemon 1 Family Changes - Third of Five Sundays in the Series: Life Changes
Families now have to learn how to cope as fast as the changes coming towards them. Learning to balance this new skill along with the multitude of normal family building skills is possible, but difficult. How can we lower the learning curve and encourage stress reduction by acquiring new coping skills?
Using Philemon to Biblically balance family transitions may seem a stretch, but as we look at the context and focus of Paul's words we find they are very close to offering the same coping skills we will need to keep our families intact in a digital age of change. Life is moving so quickly that families are asked to change their family leadership priorities and skill sets on the fly with little or no accountability from the "experts." However, there appears to be some unchanging Biblical foundations found in Philemon which can give us a place to stand and move from as we embrace some new practices needed to keep pace with a mobile and digital society. Some of those foundations are: willingness to embrace change in others, in self, and a willingness to go home again. Forgiveness and acceptance are key pieces of this foundation as are communication and role identity. Powerful stuff.
BOOK: Families and Change: Coping With Stressful Events and Transitions, Patrick McKenry & Sharon Price Third Edition, Sage Publications Inc. (A text book for college classes, but useful ideas and suggestions)
And Yes, I believe we can move just a little closer to home.
Blessings, Dave Weesner
Sunday Worship
Scripture: Philemon 1:1-21
Sermon Title: “Digital Families”
No comments:
Post a Comment