This is post #25 of a series entitled Peacemakers for the Cause of Christ – Facilitators of God’s Peace in a World Looking for Peace. We hope you’ll enjoy these 31 podcasts and blogs that focus on our great need in today’s society for peacemakers; men, women, and children who are willing to step away from all the contempt, division, and hatred, and step in toward the blessed call of being Christ-centered peacemakers for the greater glory of God. Here you’ll find very practical and biblically-sound advice on building bridges instead of walls, offering hope instead of despair. Here’s the homepage for the entire series.

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Click on the link below to listen to the podcast version of this blog!

Truth #8:         Peacemakers Work From God’s Circle of Peace.

Today’s Lectio Divina: Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn’t want to lose even one of these simple believers. Matthew 18: 12-14 (MsgB)

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Back in the 1990’s, when I was working with the men’s ministry, Promise Keepers, I experienced some of the most powerful times of true Christ-centered peacemaking whenever we gathered a handful of men in a room, shared a meal together, and then allowed plenty of time for each man in the room to simply share his own story. The ground rules were pretty simple.

• What’s said here – stays here.
• No interruptions when a person is telling their story.
• No talking over someone else. Allow a person to finish their thoughts.
• No cross-talking, meaning there’s only one conversation in the room at any given time.
• No advice giving, preaching, or undercutting others.

Many times, these reconciliation meetings, as we called them, included men from diverse backgrounds.

• White, red, brown, black, and yellow skin.
• Rich, poor, and middle-class.
• City, country, big town, little town.
• Professional, student, and blue collar.
• Tall, short, fat, thin, balding or full head of hair.
• Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist and non-denominational.
• Republican, Democrat, or Independent.
• You name it. We had it.

Actually, in most cases, the more diverse the group, the more powerful the conversation. Most gatherings started off with small talk but by the time we ended a couple of hours later, most men had pulled out a handkerchief, or their shirtsleeve, to dry up some snot and tears. Through it all, we found that the real truth is that real men really can cry!

Today, all these years later, I realize that what we were doing back in the day, now has a name for it. In the spiritual formation circles I run with today, it’s called: Holding Space for Others.

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*This is the twelfth in a variety of practical suggestions/resources we will make throughout this blog/podcast series. We call these exercises:

PUTTING ON YOUR PEACEMAKER TOOLBELT.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 9 (NIV)

Tool #12: Holding Space for Others.

Watch this short video that offers a marvelous description of the work of spiritual companionship: holding space for others. Take a look. I’ll wait for you here.

Another popular website describes Holding Space this way…

Holding space means to be with someone without judgment. To donate your ears and heart without wanting anything back. To practice empathy and compassion. To accept someone’s truth, no matter what that truth is. To allow and accept. Embrace with two hands instead of pointing with one finger. To come in neutral. Open. For them. Not you. Holding space means to put your needs and opinions aside and allow someone to just be his or herself.

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So, here’s the deal. Let me ask you two specific questions, today…

• As a peacemaker for the cause of Christ, who are you presently holding space for?
• Who is holding space for you?

As I mentioned in my last blog/podcast, I spent much of my thirty-plus years in pastoral ministry trying to be successful at the 3-B’s; enlarging my church’s (B)uilding size, upping the number of (B)ucks in the offering plate, and increasing the Sunday morning tabulation of (B)utts in the seats.

It was only when my church began to fail in these 3-B’s, when I was invited by Jesus to focus more on what I’m now calling God’s Circle of Peace; the place where three key ministry components are present. Let me review them for you:

1) Letting Jesus, and His words and works, become the primary focus of all we do (see blog/podcast 8.1),

2) The vital importance of the care and cure of souls (see blog/podcast 8.2), and…

3) Today’s subject: the power of holding space for others.

I’m hoping, by now, that you are starting to see the importance of us entering into God’s Circle of Peace. Join us next time as we continue the conversation by introducing you to my Ten Commandments for Facilitators of God’s Peace.

My Prayer: Jesus, as a peacemaker for the greater glory of God, You always seemed to have God’s heart for the one person, the one sheep, the one lonely, desperate soul. And You were willing to leave the ninety-nine in order to rescue and restore that one who had wandered from the flock, holding space for them even when others had written them off. Holy Spirit, indwell and empower me to do likewise, for Your Name’s sake. Amen.

A Few Questions to Ponder: As we asked earlier: when I survey my circle of influence, who am I holding space for right now. And secondly, as I continue this work at the center of God’s will, who is holding space for me? Is there a spiritual mentor or companion who is coming alongside me, giving me a place to be real, to be my true self, to be all Jesus sees me to be?

So, how are you experiencing God’s presence as you are becoming a peacemaker for the cause of Christ?

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*This is the thirteenth & fourteenth in a variety of practical suggestions/resources we will make throughout this blog/podcast series. We call these exercises:

PUTTING ON YOUR PEACEMAKER TOOLBELT.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 9 (NIV)

Tool #13: Finding a Christ-centered Spiritual Companion.

Might I suggest you prayerfully consider finding a well-trained, Christ-centered spiritual director. Click here to access our TCA network.    

Tool #14: Being Trained in Christ-centered Spiritual Direction.

Secondly, if you sense a deeper call, as I did, to build up your skills in the realm of soul care, learning how to better hold space for others, might I suggest you consider our School of Spiritual Direction. Click here for more details. 

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Peacemakers for the Cause of Christ – Facilitators of God’s Peace in a World Looking for Peace.

We hope you’ll enjoy these 31 podcasts and blogs that focus on our great need in today’s society for peacemakers; men, women, and children who are willing to step away from all the contempt, division, and hatred, and step in toward the blessed call of being Christ-centered peacemakers for the greater glory of God. Here’s the homepage for the entire series.

If you like what you’re reading, might we suggest you share this page with others!

Click here to go on to the next blog/podcast in this series…