Creatively Connected

Connection…I love feeling connected, who doesn’t? We were made for connection.  Planning book clubs, stone soup parties, theme nights and get-togethers is my jam.  Building bridges between people and watching these connections take place brings me great joy, it fuels my heart.  Busy is my business, it’s how I roll!

Enter Covid.  No parties, no events, no social gatherings, no working (hairstylist). Gah! “But…but…this is what I know how to do, God.”

COVID stripped me of my worldly ways of being hospitable and showed me this beautiful gift of God-given hospitality.  It was like God leaned over and said, “my child, you have spent so much time being a Martha, running around, pleasing others, here’s your time to be a Mary.”  I had a “Mary Christmas,” I like to say, no running around, no large get-togethers, a quiet time spent in His Word being thankful, focused for once on being pleasing to God, and seeking His will to be done.

Hospitality (n) – the act of being friendly, welcoming to guests and visitors.  So I’m not an English major but in my mind this is a verb.  Hospitality is an action, not a one-time event, it’s something we need to be intentional about.  Restrictions and lockdowns are still here. We are still in this unknown. We miss people.  We are all exhausted.

Then God lights this fire in me, “when you are exhausted, remember what you know:  I am the God of inexhaustible resources.” COVID you can take my parties (for now), but you can’t take my creativity.

Showing up definitely looks different right now.  We’ve organized Zoom games with kids to keep them busy for an hour while parents work, dropping care packages to working moms, always doubling our cookie recipe and sharing with those around us.  We make extra copies of colouring sheets and even left our gate open for others to come and skate when we were not out there.  I send texts, emails and written cards to people as often and as soon as they come to mind.

My heartbeat through this different time is strengthening families and stressed-out moms.  I’m reading in Acts now and noticing many times it says how when they came together, they were strengthened and encouraged.  The Bible is filled with God-breathed letters sent to people for encouragement, love, grace and peace.  I may not be able to see you in person, but I will definitely let you know I am thinking of you, praying for you and that you are loved.  I encourage you to write many love letters to friends and family, or even to that mom down the street that you don’t yet know fully.  There is power in showing up.

“Love your neighbour as yourself.” This!  Not just a little reminder, not even just a note in the margin, this is a command.  When we pour out the love of Jesus on those around us God things and good things happen.  We were created for this moment and put in this exact place for his good works.  Seek divine appointments, ask him to work through you, you may be more creative than you think.  Right now we can’t physically be present for all those around us, but God’s light shines bright when you help someone feel safe, loved, valued, seen and heard.  Give him the glory and let your creativity flow!

About the Author

Tara Bentley has been at Compass Point for about five years with her husband, Dave, and her two children. She is a hairstylist who is passionate about friendship, ladies ministry, traveling and planning get togethers.

Currently she is homeschooling her two kids. She loves thrifting, anything crafty, a good book, a new adventure. Fun fact: she played the triangle in a youth orchestra when she lived in the Netherlands as an exchange student at the age of 16.