People. You can either love them or hate them, but you can't live without them. You see, God created us for community. He created us to be in the midst of others even if that midst is a mess. Last year I learned more than I cared to about community. Frankly, community hurts. We are imperfect people. Imperfect people tend to "imperfect" their relationships along the way. Community can injure. It can rip you apart. It can strip you bare. It can make you wonder, "Why do I even try?" Even Jesus had issues with community...
Jesus, however, would not entrust Himself to them, since He knew them all. John 2:24
Yep, Jesus had issues with people. He was no different than us in that regard.
And yet, Jesus knows what real community looks like. After all, He has been a part of a community since BEFORE the beginning of time...the Trinity. God has always been in community. One that works. God sees the value of it...He was even concerned about finding a suitable partner for Adam. He put us in families. He created the church {which is really a community, not a building.} All of it is community. On this side of heaven, community can hurt simply because we are sinful creatures. But it isn't meant to hurt.
Last year I learned more than I cared to about community. Yes, community hurts, but more importantly, community heals. It takes people to hurt us to the core, but it is also people {although sometimes different people} that can begin the healing process. Community has started to heal me. Whereas it was women that hurt...other women have now come alongside me to heal and love on me. Some of them don't even know that I need healing. They just love. It is in community that we learn to risk again and sacrifice for others. It is where we learn to love again...because there is no love to be given if there is no one to receive it. It is where we learn to be loved again...because there is no love to be received if we don't show up for community. I am grateful for every kind deed and expression of love over this past year. I wouldn't have emotionally survived without them.
For 2014, my Word of the Year is COUNT. I am exploring what really counts in life, how to make my life count, and what is important to count. One of those things that counts is community. It exposes who we are, grows us, and gives us the support we need to move on. Community counts because two are better than one.
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecc. 4:9-12
To read another story of how community hurts and heals see Luke 10:25-37.
Come count with me...
4 comments:
"It can make you wonder, 'Why do I even try?'"
I've been in that place with a particular community myself for about a month. I know I don't need to linger there; it's not healthy for any of us, but dealing with people can be so complex and sometimes we tire when we get hurt.
So I especially appreciate your reminder though that community also HEALS. I have so many wonderful pockets of community spread here and there, and I drink in each one. Thanks for your encouragement.
Amen!
When it is community that wounds us
it is only community that can heal us!
And that perfect Trinity of community? He invites us in!
Thank you for sharing, Debbie. I'm sorry you have been hurt, but I'm so glad you have found a healing community. This reminds me to learn to count the community of healing I have rather than all the communities who have hurt me throughout my life. Thank you.
Thank you for stopping by and listening to my heart!
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