I’ve been thinking about community a lot the past few
days. I crave community, but beyond that
I need community. We all need community
to different degrees.
I love being in those big groups with common shared experiences.
I went to the big Oprah’s 24th Season bash on Michigan Ave with the Black Eyed Peas Flashmob – just to say I was part of it.
I love being one-on-one
with a girlfriend sharing the mundane and the Holy work of God.
I just read Stefanie’s UpLIFTing Words about 5 reasons why she chooses community. You
know what? We all have different reasons
why we need this. We all have different
reasons for why we avoid it or don’t make it a priority. A good one to throw out there is that it is
WORK! After all the houseWORK, yardWORK,
schoolWORK, and even work WORK – who has the time or the energy for more of it?
It begins by making that conscious
decision that it is worth it.
We aren’t called to be Lone Rangers in this world.
I went to my first Community Bible Study Tuesday
morning. I was one of about 40 newbies
to this collection of 400 women all wanting to study and grow in God’s word –
in COMMUNITY. I’ll be placed in a much
smaller group of women that will allow relationships to form. I planted to seeds and I will have to tend to
them to see them bear fruit.
I’ve also found ways to build other communities
online. One, is a super surprise secret
that I can’t tell you about for a few more weeks. You’ll have to just sit tight for that
one. But there are others. The blogosphere is teeming with amazing women
that share my heart song. Twitter has
connected me to amazing women on the other side of the country and the other
side of my county. Facebook has
introduced me to people I grew up 20 minutes away from, but have just found
yesterday! That is not an exaggeration,
literally yesterday.
Allume is building a community for me that will let me
have girls’ night out for 3 nights in a row in just over a month. There aren’t enough hash tags or emoticons in
the world to express my excitement over that.
Tonight I’m going to hang out with my #FMFparty girlfriends
starting at about 9:30 Eastern Time until I have to hit the hay. Those west of me and the night owls will wait
for Lisa-Jo’s prompt for Five Minute Friday.
They will then pour out blessings for me and you through their keyboards
and have them ready to greet me in the morning.
I’ll read their words, be encouraged and send them on to others (after I’ve
written my own).
I encourage you to strike out and start making your own
community. There are so many ways to do
it now. You never know who you might
meet along the way. I can tell you
this. If you are meeting with one or two
others who share your faith and love for the Lord – you will meet Jesus
there. That’s pretty good company – as good
as it gets, actually. It’s worth the
work.
Where are you finding unexpected community? What is community doing in your life right
now?
For where two or three gather in my name, there
am I with them. Matthew 18:20
Sigh... I wish I could go to Allume, but I'm hopeful for next year...
ReplyDeleteand the FMFparty - just wonderful!!!!
Sarah...I'm right there with you. When I found out more about it last week (I new of the Relevant conferences, but didn't know they'd changed their name to Allume), I was boarding heartbroken that I didn't know beforehand. That I didn't prepare. Because to go to that, would be an absolute dream. But it's more than just one reason that I can't, so I just have to sigh, give it to God, and encourage my sisters that are able to go.
DeleteYou and I...we'll pray it up and by God's grace go next year...what do you think? :)
And Amy...how fun is finding community in the most unexpected of places? Last week was my first #fmfparty and I could not have had more of an enriching time. I may not make it tonight, but if I can...I'm so there!
I'm so glad that we have all become part of this fun little group. I found out about the conference very early on because I wass helping a friend find one and decided to go to support her. It's crazy how things work out. Tickets went on sale in March or April, I think, so put it on your calendar for next year. :)
DeleteWhat a great variety of ways to show community! Allume...yay! Can't wait and FMFparty has just been THE BOMB!! Thank you sharing your post in that hashtag earlier today so I could find you HERE!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to have met you online and so excited to do it in person. You'll have to have the flowers painted on so we will recognize you! :) I'm a bit of a hashtag abuse at times, I'm afraid.
DeleteOh we are kindred. I'm already convinced!
ReplyDeleteAmen to all of this...
And I'm so blessed to have met you via #FMFParty. Ack! So thrilled... ;)
Just read your 100 things, so many could've been mine. #FMFparty is quickly moving its way up the charts of my top good things in my life. Just love learning more and more about you.
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