Belonging

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Scripture:  Leviticus 19:34

The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the native-born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Looking to Sunday

by Elaine Poproski

What does it feel like to belong?

Two weeks after moving to Toronto, I was walking along Bloor St. around 9:00 one evening. It was early March. The temperature was brisk, but not cold. The wide sidewalks were clear and brightly lit. Other people were also out and about – a couple walking their dog, a woman pushing a stroller, numerous adults of various ages on their own or in small groups coming or going from I don’t know where. I had this sudden sense that this was where I belonged. It struck me out of the blue. But it’s stuck with me ever since.

Before I moved to Toronto I lived in a small town for a lot of years. It was a lovely town, full of families and kids, hockey through the winter and soccer through the summer, competitive dance teams, a renowned fall fair… I served as a pastor in a church full of people I loved, privileged to be part of their lives. But at no time in all those years did I have that same sense of belonging that struck me two weeks into my new life in Toronto.

In the small town, the majority of people came as part of a family – parents and kids, often grandparents as well. I was on my own. My parents lived elsewhere, and I had no spouse and no kids. I was incredibly warmly welcomed into the community, particularly by the members of my church. I was invited to school music nights and to cheer at soccer games. At least a couple families adopted me into their families. But somehow, I never felt like I fit. Not like I did as I walked down Bloor St. that March evening in 2016.

I’ve thought a lot about what made the difference for me. At first, I thought it was simply that in my new home there were more people like me – single adults without kids. That’s probably part of it, but as I’ve thought about it, I think there’s something important about our city’s diversity that contributed to my sense of belonging. It was like, in the small town, the majority of the people I knew and saw were pretty similar – there’s wasn’t really room for people who were different. But in the city, there’s so much difference, that it’s like there’s room for everyone – me included.

Have you ever experienced what it is to belong? What do you think contributed to that sense of belonging? What can you do to contribute to someone else’s experience of belonging?

On Sunday we’re going to talk about belonging. We’re going to talk about hospitality, not as something it would be nice for us to do when we have the time, but as something commanded by God. As you prepare for Sunday, perhaps spend some time considering the questions about belonging asked above. If you’re reading How to Revive Evangelism, you’re encouraged to read chapter 3 this week. I look forward to our discussions over lunch after church or on Tuesday evening over Zoom.