R - Relationship
Relationship: Facilitating an atmosphere of unconditional love and creating a sense of homecoming..
Whatever else we say and do it is our relationships which we will be judged on by others. When we offer compassion when people are expecting judgement that still has the power to shock. We live in a world de-sensitised to evil but which can still be surprised by grace, and cannot help be attracted to it.
As we learned in John: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
What characterises our relationships? As we are instructed in Romans we are devoted to one another in brotherly love. This is no hit and run community, we are not in it for what we can get out of it. And we honour one another above ourselves.
We serve one another and we love because the day is near. We "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."
We are part of Jesus' united church, In fact it is in our relationships where the Holy Spirit himself dwells. It says in Ephesians 2: "In Him [Christ] you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit".
Being part of this community has its responsibilities and risks. When you join the Bear we all become influenced by you and affected by the way you conduct yourself. Because we share our lives we can either by lifted up by you or hurt. We want The Bear to be a safe place where we experience in each other the love of God and the sense of homecoming that comes from realising that you are unconditionally accepted. But we also know that we take a risk by being in this community and if you are to remain in it you must take your responsibility seriously.