Cliques...
Mark raises an interesting question about cliques. The reason I'm in a dilemma over what to think is related to this person who joined my choir recently. Her name is Elaine, and she's about middle aged. Now my choir people are genuinely warm and friendly people, I felt that from every one of them when I first joined. I sincerely believe that they are warm and friendly to everyone and not just to me. Yet, Elaine doesn't quite fit in with the choir. She's more reserved, and maybe some thinking wavelengths are different. She tends to sit alone quietly, and I can't find anything to talk to her about. Lately, she's not been coming and seems to feel ostracised from us. The question is, who's to blame? Is it us? Is it her? Or is the choir just too different for her?

I find that these are tough questions to answer. I find the people in choir to be as open and caring as can be. I also feel that the choir is as diverse and open as can be; if she can't fit into this choir, I don't know what choir would be the 'right' choir. Finally, I know how hard it is to 'fit in' sometimes, and one can feel totally helpless is such cases.

So, what are cliques then? Do they exist in the church? Should they exist in the church? Is there a clique out there for me, one of the cliqueless?