JuCa Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 So, what does it mean to belong? Well, tonight at our CLU (Communion and Liberation University) meeting we talked about belonging. What is it? What are the requirements? How do I know that I belong to a person and a person belongs to me? Do we have to experience this? In my thoughts...belonging is to be comfortable in the place that you are. To be with people that you can open up to (although sometimes its hard) and they will help you out... ones that will use what you say and take them to their own experience in life. Tonight I learned a lot about belonging. We proposed this questions and one person said it is to participate in something together- knowing we all desire the same thing. And ya know what.... I think of Phatmass as something I belong to. It's not only something we can just talk about in CL. We can put it with other experiences. Here at Phatmass...I feel as if I belong to everyone on here for we have all shared our thoughts, hilarious moments, random pictures, and more random stuff. I know part of you and you all know part of me. We also discussed how the beginning of belonging is desire. And that to belong is to love your desire. Which is kinda cracking me up now...because I desire to be on Phatmass. I constantly want to check what the new post are and updates on new ones. This desire is sometimes too much (like right now...haha...i have tons of homework! yikes!) Desiring to be here has resulted in me learning many new things...it's been an educational tool!!!!!! This phamily is great!!!!! We have to keep desiring and asking questions like this to grow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinRock Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 I'm gonna try and stay in the same aspect of what you are trying to get across, if by belonging you mean, who we are comfortable with, then by all means, yes, it is someone whom you trust, who can help you out in times of need. The only way you can "belong" to something, is if it really helps you out as a person. If you can sleep a little easier at night knowing that other people do care, that you aren't alone, then you have it made. If you "belong" to a group or club just to be cool or whatever, then you are only hurting yourself. We as humans need to make our own decisions, we must do what we feel is right, sure you can take advice, but you can't expect anything to turn out the same for you as it does for other people, everyone's experience in life is different, and if "belong" to something or someone that accepts that, than you shouldn't have any regrets or second thoughts about being with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyful Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 I think that "belonging" is one of the most important things in life. Jesus obviously saw the importance of it or He wouldn't have created a church. We would all be going at it alone. I'm a peer minister at my university and we try so hard to promote a community atmosphere. It's difficult to make everyone feel like the belong, like they have a role that is unique and vital. The best way for us to do that is to find the strengths that others have and then to utilize them. There is this girl who comes to every event that we have. She's awkward (sp?) in every way imagineable. For the longest time we have been searching to help her find away to fit in. Then one night she came to bible study and it turned out that was the answer to our prayers... She's so smart and she offered wonderful insight. Everyone listened to her and was excited to hear what she had to say. She found her place and she definitely belongs now. Ok so that's it for me. Thanks for giving me a place to belong! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emalouhow Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 What a beautiful story of a real experience!!! Thanks for sharing Joyful! :D By the way, what University do you attend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuCa Posted November 20, 2003 Author Share Posted November 20, 2003 bump :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emalouhow Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 OK, maybe a better way of asking it is how do you know you belong to something? I'm not talking about just being a member of something, but really truly belong. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences (Please share how you've experienced real belonging). :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyful Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 Emalouhow~ I attend the University of Oklahoma! Boomer Sooner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katt1227 Posted November 26, 2003 Share Posted November 26, 2003 What is belonging? Such an amesome question. Belonging. For me, belonging is sharing in a common desire. The desire for Him. I belong to those things, those people who generate me towards my desire for Him. I belong to the friends who help me to recognize Christ's presence. As part of sharing in that desire for the infinite comes openness and friendship, love and affection. The people that I belong to are the ones that I have great affection for, that I can be open and comfortable around. Em asked for concrete examples... I belong to my family, my friends, the church, to Christ. I belong to each of you that generate questions in me and help me to recognize Christ's Presence. That's what belonging is to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuCa Posted November 27, 2003 Author Share Posted November 27, 2003 is this the belonging thread you are talking about? here it is : ) my brain is so crazed right now with stuff that is going on or i would write... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Repentant Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 aren't there levels to belonging? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 "To be naked and not ashamed"--when you reach that not only with GOd but with your friends you have come to a deeper understanding of what God has to offer---the deepest sense of belonging is felt i believe. When UNITY is present even when DIFFERENCES occur between one another but all parties involved are open heart and minded that they are able to truly share and truly listen--that is belonging to me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 For me, belonging is sharing in a common desire. The desire for Him. I belong to those things, those people who generate me towards my desire for Him. I belong to the friends who help me to recognize Christ's presence. As part of sharing in that desire for the infinite comes openness and friendship, love and affection. The people that I belong to are the ones that I have great affection for, that I can be open and comfortable around. Amen to this!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 JuCa, You belong to me and I belong to you - Why? Because of Him - because we recognize the Presence in each other. Because we encounter in each other Jesus, because our desires correspond and our desires have their origin and destiny in Him. Because when I am with you (and I can verify this) I am more myself - you exalt my "I". And you are right, you belong to much more than just CL - anyone that you encounter the Presence in and you have a leap of the soul from that encounter - you belong to them and they belong to you. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Oh my gosh, it sounds like everyone is reading Fr. Giussani!!! Anyway, how did I ever miss this thread? JuCa . . . I am definitely going to the Diaconia, so I will meet you there!!! Now, this question, belonging, it's a wierd one . . . because sometimes, even with my friends, people who I feel I belong to and even belong to me, sometimes, I feel like I am completely an alien to them . .. It's like Beethoven's 7th Symphony . . . the first part, the introdcution, with its powerful movements . . . it's amesome, you feel like you are part of a great party . . . then in the Second part, you walk away and start to look a the party throuhg the window outside and it looks very sad to you, you feel like you can't even understand how you were having so much fun at that party . . . then all of a sudden you go back into the room and you start to have a good time again, but the memory of that being outside remains . . . What is that? That feeling that I can't shake, that as much fun as I'm having at the party, I still remember that somehow, in a very real way, I didn't belong . . . and didn't fit in . . . and here I am belonging again, but not quite the same way . . . Well, if you can make sense of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuCa Posted December 12, 2003 Author Share Posted December 12, 2003 YAY! I'm so pumped BLAZEr! This Diaconia will be good for me.. maybe help me with understanding. I am totally knowing what you are saying. I can make sense of it. I too feel this at times. Sometimes I ask myself...do I belong here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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