Living Life Together: Community

Here is my 5 minute writing on: Community

There is a difference between friends and community. I mean, a friend can be part of your community, but just because you call someone "friend" doesn't mean you have community.

As confusing as this sounds, please let me explain.

To me, community involves "living life together". It requires going deeper and knowing more about the other people in your community then just what car they drive or how many kids they have. To have community you need both trust and vulnerability, a willingness to share your needs, desires, struggles, as well as your triumphs.

I'm convinced we have become so distracted by our daily responsibilities and activities that we tell ourselves it takes MORE work to live in community then to live without it. But I have personally experienced the benefits.

Living life together means sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of life. It means sharing the day to day. When we share our lives with others it opens the door for blessings. When I know what's going on in the life of another person I can pray for them, offer help, carry burdens (Galatians 6:2) and vice versa.

When I live in community with others I know I can ask them for help when I need it. That they are there for me, supporting me in the deepest parts of my life. They know all my "junk" so every time we get together we don't have to "start over". We can just pick up where we left off.

Living in community means consistency and commitment to one another and it affords a level of care for each other that is deep, loyal, and steadfast.

I see God in community.

I feel connected, cared for, and valued.

We all have a desire for that kind of connection and acceptance. God made us that way.

Do you have anyone you are "living life" with?

Linking with "5 minute Friday"...