The Name
“Vibrance” — Why that name?
In truth, finding the word was harder than identifying the concepts vibrance describes.
The flowers in my Wisconsin garden were beautiful again this year and the sight of a bright flower reveals a couple things right away. “I’m alive!” the flower would say if it had the words. “My roots are bringing nutrients up from the soil, my leaves are doing the same with light and atmosphere. I’m healthy! Enjoy the beauty, Mister, there will be more of us next season.”
When I see a family of people who love and respect each other, encourage and promote, love enough to correct (You’ve got a little piece of something in your teeth. — Oooh- thanks!), and enjoys being together, it’s apparent; this family is alive. Their relationships are dynamic. Healthy. Loving. These folks could probably even disagree about something significant and still be fine with each other. Respect and honor see to it that it’s so. This family knows how to work and play well – together.
When I see a group of Christians who pray, study and worship together, help each other grow, serve others, encourage each other to be more loving and to do good work (more on that in Hebrews 10.19-25), I know I’ve have found a church – a healthy one.
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Those folks probably know who God is and understand what He likes. Or doesn’t.
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They respond to Him in meaningful ways when they’re alone and when they gather.
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They know what He approves of and what He hates (from spending time in the Book)
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They know He expects them to be healthy and reproduce (like my flowers) to bring more hope, faith and love into a world that won’t admit what it needs.
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They’re living out what they know of God.
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It’s not a chore, it’s more than a creed they subscribe to — it’s what they do! It stems from Who they love! The first half of John 15 describes it best.
When I see those qualities in my family, the churches I work with –and in the mirror– I get excited!
We need more of this!
I love the sense of fulfillment that comes from living that way. I savor the quiet, often silent delight that comes from knowing “This is healthy! How alive! The world could use more of this, ya’ know?” And there’s a word that reduces to two syllables everything I think and feel about these kinds of things.
Vibrance: (n) It’s the noun form of vibrant (adj): a. Pulsing or throbbing with energy or activity… a. Vigorous, lively, and vital…
Vibrance. One word, two syllables that keep me from rambling on and on about the good things that come from living obediently.
I enjoy it, I love teaching it and I’m happiest when God works through me to teach, model and mentor along these lines. So “vibrance” is more than a nifty name for my blog. It’s how I endeavor to live. It’s what I hope to convey when I influence people, especially Christians, who are sincere about the abundant life Christ came to give.
If you like the idea of overhearing someone describe your life as “So OBviously alive” stick around and join the discussions. This is contagious!
–PLR–
