Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?
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| Help with setting up food at our reception |
When I lived in Kentucky, I was blessed with the most amazing small group through my church. This group really came together as a community to “one-another” each other – they genuinely showed Christ’s love to those around them. This past year I really grew to appreciate the value of community through this group.
We came together to meet each other’s needs. We challenged each other to grow. We learned about the Word together, and prayed with each other. We would share meals together. Our fearless leader would even give us cooking lessons! :) (He’s a fabulous cook by the way.) I cannot tell you how I truly valued the friendships I have made from this little community as well as all the wisdom I’ve heard and shared.
When my husband and I got married this summer, my small group went above and beyond the call of duty to help us out. We didn’t have a lot of money to spend on food at the reception, so we asked them to help organise food as pot-luck hors d’oeuvres. They thoroughly exceeded our expectations! Everyone in small group who made attended our wedding contributed something, whether it was a dish of food or help with set-up and serving food. What a gift! :)
Now that I’m living in the UK, I really miss my small group! That’s not to say that I won’t be able to more deeply connect with the communities where I’m living now. I’m not sure if that will mean connecting deeply with the home group my husband and I are in currently or connecting deeply with a handful of people on the OM team here or perhaps a bit of both or somewhere else.
It’s not been easy for me to connect with communities and people in general. It’s been a bit of a struggle since I’ve gotten here. That’s not to say that I haven’t made friends or gotten out and met people. I have just forgotten how long it takes before a place can feel like home. I’ve been reminded that I don’t necessarily need to be asking, “What’s in it for me?” but “How will God use me?” to connect well to a good community.
I‘m taking part in a blog writing challenge the month of December called #reverb10. Each day participants are given a prompt to blog about. Wanting a little variety in my blogging and having never done a blog challenge before, I thought I was up for the challenge. Please continue to follow my blog as I “reflect on the year and manifest what is next!”
