Where Life Is

This week as we were heading to meet some family for dinner, we drove over a dried-up creek bed. One of those creeks that flows freely in the spring and summer but does not sustain itself over the winter. As we passed over the dry creek bed, Tonya asked Parker if he knew where the fish went, the ones that were in the creek back in summer. "They died" he replied. "Could be, but what might be another option?" we asked. His answer: "They went where there was more water".

And that got me to thinking. People, as well as fish, go where life is. They want to, they need to, go to where things are happening.

Some examples:
1. When a sports team gets off to a slow start to its season, people stop attending games. There becomes a sense that, since the team is not good, the games are not worth attending and people stay away.

2. Shopping malls that once thrived with customers become relative ghost towns. Why? Because stores that once drew crowds no longer do and close their doors. The stores that replace the original stores are usually less effective than the originals. A downward spiral begins.

3. Young adults and young families are looking for churches that have ministries that meet their needs. The preaching and teaching of the Gospel must be foundational to who the church is but many churches do not offer opportunities to allow individuals to connect with one another in meaningful ways. People are looking to live life with others. A church must be more than just Sunday morning.

Here's The Point: Just as fish make the effort to avoid seasonally dry creek beds, so do people as they look to find life. Churches that do not help people connect in meaningful ways, outside simply Sunday morning, are destined to dry up. People want to be where life is happening.