For Love of the Body

By: Therese McNichol

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
 

I have worked as Office Manager for the CIC Office for several years. I have always loved my job, but in 2010 I began experiencing a desire to work fewer hours. In addition to CIC, I also belong to the People of Praise (POP), an ecumenical community out of which CIC grew. As I looked around the body of Christ, both in CIC and POP, I could see the needs I wasn’t able to meet because of my full-time work status. I was torn between serving the body through my job and being more available to support the other needs of my brothers and sisters in Christ. My heart was moved with love for them and I wanted to do more.

Thus began a discernment process my husband, Tom, and I undertook in asking the Lord for clarity. Reducing my hours would mean sacrificing a significant part of our income. It was also a risk because of our uncertain economy. Tom had only been at his current job for a year and had been told that some employees would have to be laid off the following year. What if he lost his job or got sick and wasn’t able to work? How much less of a tithe would we be able to give to both CIC and POP? We periodically battled fear and wrestled with selfish motives before arriving at our decision.

There were two signs we felt were necessary in order for us to proceed with this choice. When my daughter, Theresee Irene, agreed to working full-time for CIC, this was the first confirmation we needed. Because she had worked for CIC during college, we knew she was well suited for the position. Our second confirmation came when Tom’s school contract was renewed for the following year. Having received our signs, we felt confident in making the choice to begin reducing my hours. The Lord had provided what we needed!
 

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: What might our Father be asking you to sacrifice for the sake of the body of Christ? What gets in the way of your responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit?