Community...

Life is interesting right now... I can see the hand of God on my life right now more than I ever have. His hand is not moving though... It's like it's holding me in place, while I build momentum, and keeping me safe from all the things that long to snatch me away. Little can I see His other hand moving about preparing things to release me into only in His perfect timing. It is exciting and painful all at once, as the pressure of the momentum is building and I am being pressed but not crushed. In all of this... never abandoned.

That is something I am hearing from a lot of people lately, and have even felt it myself.... loneliness, abandonment, feeling neglected... rejected.

I was venting to a best friend the other day... sharing how lonely and abandoned I have felt lately and even though I know I am wrong for feeling that way, it has still been something I've had to deal with. He said, "You're not alone in feeling that way, in your loneliness." And he was right. Several people I've talked to since then have been struggling with it just as much.... the CRAZY thing is, I am with these people all the time. How can we feel lonely and abandoned when we are with each other ALL the time? My same friend recently said, "Community is the answer to everything. Who shot J.R.?... Community!!" Haha..... The answer is really almost that simple. This is the answer I have come up with...depth of community.

Surface level relationship is never grounds for anything more than social stimulation. Below the surface you will be able to find rich soil that fosters opportunity for spiritual covenant and real Biblical community. Yet we have settled for a 'hi, how are you?', 'good.', 'great.' relationship with the majority of those we call our 'family'. I want to go deeper... I want to have all things in common. I want to bear one another's burdens. I want them to know that we belong to Christ because of our love for one another....

So let's go deeper... I repent for my walls that have kept you out... for my quick hellos and hugs that have at times been rendered as obligation... for being consumed with doing ministry rather than ministering to you. Forgive me.... If you will allow me, I would love do life with you and allow you to do the same with me. Can I be close to everyone in the whole wide world? No... but I will give as much of myself as I can to this body of believers I call my community.... Let's do it....

Let's go deeper into communion with Jesus and each other.