the value and power of friendship should never be underestimated. over the past few days, and especially yesterday i have been reminded of just how important it is to have good friends in your life at all times and find yourself surrounded by and immersed in the community of believers as true friends, mentors, fellow journey-mates, and counselors. it seems that in the past 48 hours i have learned of and experienced more of the true joys of community in real and profound ways—maybe more-so than ever before in such a short amount of time.
there is something to be said about spending a long period of time in a car with one other person for two days talking and laughing, exploring questions and topics, and bearing your hearts desires and dreams with them. i was able to do this with my friend jacob. and in doing so dispelled one of the great misnomers about developing community. it does not take a long amount of time drawn out over weeks and months and years through some long and laborious process. no, community can take place quickly when you let your guard down and allow people to enter into your space… and in doing so, we lift the thin veil and reveal the heaven on earth.
i am also reminded of how important it is to reconnect with friends from the past. yesterday, i ventured back to north point to see former students and friends, to catch up and visit with them. it’s wonderful to reconnect so quickly (even though it has been over a year since i have seen or talked to any of them) and move on as if we haven’t even skipped a beat. that’s what true community looks like—the collapsing of time past into the present—to where the time that we have missed is not time that we have lost but rather is smooshed into the now. true community is the absence of time—where relationships continue unaffected, not skipping a beat, despite how time continues to march forward.
there is also something spiritually profound about sharing meals together. (although i’m completely unsure of what that profoundness is.) something unexplainable and spiritually enriching takes place when you share a meal in community. i experienced this profoundness this evening as i shared a meal with my friends matt, ann, andy and misty around a table. i was invited in to participate in laughter and joy, seriousness and silliness, problem solving and the sharing of the journey together. it’s amazing how much your lives intersect over a meal as you share and bare your soul with one another… and maybe that’s where the profundity lay—in the intersection of your lives. and maybe that’s the power of sharing a meal in community—intersection.
in 48 hours time, i experienced the fullness of community in a variety of aspects (not all of which are mentioned here). in fact, i’ve been invited into 3 homes in just one day to sleep, to eat, and to fellowship. it has been a long time since i’ve been able to truly participate in the joys and fullness of community in the body so deeply and profoundly—my soul has desperately ached for these moments to experience the lifting of the thin veil and experience true community.
to you all (mentioned and unmentioned), i am deeply grateful to you for ministering to my soul in big ways throughout the course of the day with your generous acts of love. thank you for pouring into me and giving me the gift of community.
Related posts:
- coming together in poverty.
- why can’t we all just get along?
- liturgy–the dirty word.
- journey on.
- individual responsibility vs. communal responsibility.
Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend.
It’s so good to hear about your experience and the gratitude in your words are encouraging.
Thanks for that.
I am sad I was not able to participate, as I need that community just as much right now. It sucks being home alone with your thoughts.
oops “is encouraging”
Bad, bad Aaron for not calling me when in town!
Oh, I mean I am glad that you had a wounderful time of fellowship with those other people.
Sounds awesome. I’ve always said that we have to look at what community is — it isn’t one group of people, it is a unique combination of individuals gathering together — each individual with talents, troubles and time to share with others. When you reflect on that, it really changes the feel of what community means. That’s true church, too, I believe — instant but never constant. We each travel on different paths, so when individuals get together, there’s always news to share.
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Couldn’t have said it better myself.
It was really good to see you and glad you could join us in conversation as well!
GRR why do you never stay for youth group?? I missed you entirely!
But I am glad you had a good time hanging out.
With everyone else.
Except me.
Sure, you say it was good to see me now, but after a couple days sleeping in the same hotel room in Grand Rapids, maybe you will think differently.
It was really nice to see you too Aaron. Thanks for coming by The Living Room! I wish Adam would have been there.
Good luck in G.R.. It sounds like Matt has a special something in store for you guys.
thanks for the starlight breakfast…it was good to catch up and share!
pt