thoughts on community

com·mu·ni·ty

   /kəˈmyunɪti/ Show Spelled[kuh-myoo-ni-tee]
a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists.

THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES

During the past few years, I've heard lots of teachings on what it means to live in biblical community.  I've been involved in several Community Groups and Life Groups and they have all looked drastically different depending on people, location, common interests and walks of life.

The one thing all of these "communities" have in common, however, is that these aren't just groups, or something to be a part of once a week or once a month.  Community is a way of life. 

COLLEGE GIRLS COMMUNITY

When Emily was 6 months old, we moved to San Marcos and I went back to college.  In all honesty, I was scared to death to move away from family and friends and embark on the single mom college student journey alone.

But I wasn't alone.  The Lord graciously surrounded me with numerous girl friends who helped out with Emily, saw our needs, loved us to pieces, and lived life with us. I didn't realize it then, but these girls were my Community.

"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. "  1 Thessalonians 5:14

SAN MARCOS COMMUNITY GROUP

The next year, there were several San Marcos peeps who attended our church in Austin, but were looking for community in San Marcos.  We met every Tuesday, fellowshipped, encouraged, and shared about what was going on in our lives.

But it didn't stop there.  These people were available during the week to live life alongside each other.  I never felt obligated to wait until next Tuesday to see them again or talk to them.  These awesome brothers and sisters were my Community.

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."  Hebrews 10:24-25

FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING COMMUNITY

My first year of teaching was probably my easiest in the respect to teaching, but was all very challenging in trying to figure out how to balance and find the energy to teach 5 year olds all day and come home to a 3 year old.... all by myself.

But I wasn't by myself, at all.  People were everywhere.  People from school, people from church, people down the road, and people on every country road between my house and school.  These people often saw my needs before I did, and were always available.  They intentionally lived life alongside us.  They were my Community.

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."  Romans 12:9-21

BELOW THE SURFACE COMMUNITY

My first 2 years of teaching, I also attended a group study at my church every week.  Our purpose was to get to the root of our past and present struggles, trials and tribulations.  To be transparent in hopes of finding healing and restoration while offering hope and encouragement to others.

This was the In The Basement kind of community...  The TrueFaced kind of Community.

This kind of community is hard to find, hard to develop, but is the kind most of us long for.

Man, you guys were hard to leave!  So glad I am still able to be connected even with an ocean between us.

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. " Galatians 6:2

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7


FACEBOOK COMMUNITY

Yes, Facebook Community!  You guys have been awesome, especially since we moved Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

I feel closer to a lot of you now than I did when we were in the States!  Your prayers and encouragement have played a huge part in keeping us going, picking us up when things are hard, and keeping us connected to things that are familiar and comfortable.

You really have been a great community and have lived life alongside us even from a different country!

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

AUSTIN STONE COMMUNITY

Let's just say I miss you guys SO MUCH!  When I was in Beijing a couple of weeks ago, prepping for TWO KNEE SURGERIES, (which I still can't believe I almost did)!, I was really, really discouraged and disappointed.

A friend from The Stone posted my prayer need on The City, which is similar to a Facebook Network for our church.  The next day I woke up with over 50 emails of encouragement from brothers and sisters I didn't even know!

You guys inspired me and encouraged me more than I can possibly articulate.

You were just the type of Community I needed in that moment.

"And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-40

CHINESE COMMUNITY

I have learned a LOT from the Chinese Community.  In China, community isn't really an option. Like I said before, it's a way of life.  In China, it's a means for survival.  You need each other here.

My eyes were really opened when I thought I might be having knee surgery here in Shenyang.  In the hospitals here, the nurses don't really take care of you.  Your family does.

And I was trying to wrap my mind around what that would like for me here.  People would need to bring me meals and water, etc.  The hospital would just provide me a bed to sleep in and the rest would have been up to "family".

The Chinese... they live life alongside each other every day.  It's not a choice.  It's not a group.  It's a way of life.  The Chinese...  they get it.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12


MY CHINA COMMUNITY

During this ridiculous knee saga (which is still ongoing), my China Community has just graciously overwhelmed us with love, encouragement and support.

They are here for us.  All the time.  When we need food, they give us food.  When we need company, they visit.  When Emily needed to get out of the house and I couldn't walk down the stairs, they took her to get some fresh air.  When I couldn't get up the stairs, they carried me.  When the medical world sucked every penny out of my hands, the Lord used my China Community to provide.

When we didn't know what to do, they prayed.  When I cried, they encouraged.  When I couldn't do things I needed to do, they stepped up.

And as I get ready to give this doctor thing another go tomorrow, they are right here alongside us cheering us on.  These guys are my Community.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

Community- a way of life.

 

"As long as your life involves Truth and People, you are on the right track."  ~Tommy Barnett