The Gift of Community

Ta da!  The self-imposed BLOGGATICAL is over.   I haven't posted since November and to some of you that will not be a surprise since you stopped looking at this blog a long time ago.  


Truth be told I've been blogging, just not online--in my journals and in my head and believe me there were times I wanted to run to this blog and post something about what I was seeing and feeling--but I didn't.  I held back so that I could gain some perspective and context in what I was going through.  


I won't unload the whole cart here today but hopefully in the coming months you'll see and hear a part of me that you haven't heard before.


Today I was struck in my reading of Phillipians 1 how much community is a gift to the believer.  Paul called the Phillipians "partners" in the gospel with him and in a true sense he felt that they shared in his triumphs and his sufferings.


What is community? Wikipedia says it this way: In biological terms, a community is a group of interacting organisms sharing a populated environment. In human communities, intent, belief, resources,preferences, needs, risks, and a number of other conditions may be present and common, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of cohesiveness.

Ok, I'm not calling "the body of Christ" an interacting organism, although that is a great description, but I love the next description:  intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs and risks.  I think that's a pretty encompassing definition of community.


We align ourselves around the "intent" to be more Christ-like and apart from this core believe we are left to each "do as he pleases".  We must all agree on "intent" and belief is essential too.  Too much of community is divided around minor things---as they say "MAJOR ON THE MAJORS"--not the minors


Community is based on "resources" and who can't see that our vision of community is no longer just "local" but it's "glocal"--meaning it's global and local.  MY community is not just geographic anymore--but it's global by means of technology and social affinity.


The final thing that struck me about me about this definition is "RISK". Yes, we risk when we enter into community.  We risk losing part of ourselves; we risk hurt and injury; we risk safety and comfort; we risk tears and rejection.  However, the risks always have rewards because as I read Phillipians Pauls trials were theirs too but also his insights and gains in the faith were theirs too because of his faith.


What I've discovered in this period of "blog" silence is that I have a community of faith.  They speak to me and encourage me (some through texts, some through email, some in person, some via Twitter or FB).  I guess by keeping my "blog mouth" shut for a while I've been able to gain some "context" for this journey that I'm on. I'm truly understanding that I'm not alone as my community helps me with SCRIPTURE, SPIRIT and SUPPORT.  It truly is a gift.