Community

This word prompted by the good people at #Reverb10 is something I talk about a lot. I believe in community.  It is the greatest commandment — the very one that we mark and honor on every Holy Thursday as followers of Jesus Christ.  We’re not supposed to be alone.  We’re supposed to love one another as God loves us.  Of course, that’s not easy.  There are people that are instantly lovable and people that make your skin crawl.  There are people that challenge your last nerve and people that make your heart soar.  For me, the church is making a space for all of those people.  The church seeks to be a gathering place for people that wouldn’t ever call each other “friend” outside the bonds of this covenant. I believe in that.  I seek to create it.  I talk about it all of the time.

However, it’s not what I seek in my personal life.  This tension is troublesome.  I want to believe that I can create a place for all of those personalities in my life — but the reality is that life is too short.  I don’t want to idle away holy time with someone that drives me slightly insane when I could be with someone I adore.  To that end, this has been a year where I’m trying to build those communities that matter to me.  I’m finding those people and those places that both challenge and inspire.  With my whole heart, I’m trying to embrace community while being encompassed in it.  It’s not easy for an introvert who enjoys the hibernation of winter — but I believe it’s possible.  And that’s enough.  For now.