living in community

Have you lost your community? That place of shared knowledge and understanding. A place of collaboration and challenges. A space where you understand others and they understand you. A setting where you serve others and grow yourself.

Go back to being 5. It was easier then. It usually went something like this.

“Want to play?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Me too. Want to be my friend?”
“Yes. We’re the bestest friends ever.”

As young children, we often easily connect to others like us, but something changes as we get older. We lean into isolation because it’s easy. We run out of time or we have too many things to do to purposefully connect with others. In the natural ebb and flow of life, it happens to everyone.

When we’re alone, everything suffers - mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We were created to be in relationships. Here’s where community comes in. Living in community allows us to be better. It gives us a way to serve others and collaborate. In community, we are able to care for others and develop ourselves.

Mom, Dad, And George

Let me give you an example. My parents live at Bethany Village and I would dare to say that it has been the best move of their lives. They went from a small single street with friendly neighbors and good relationships to a whole community within walking distance. They haven’t left the old behind but the new has made them better.

My parents haven’t lost the past. They still talk with their old neighbors, attend the same church, and see their grandkids, but here’s what happens within the new community. In their late 70s they have found ministry in their own backyard. My mom serves water at the nursing home on campus. Dad and Mom welcome new community members into their home. They go out and visit with folks who need a friend.  Not only have they found a way to serve, but they have found friends and mentors. They do woodworking and participate in the railroad club. They are in community and they are being sharpened.

It reminds me of a Proverb found in the Bible.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.                                               - Proverbs 27:17 NIV

Community is where we learn and grow. It is where we are sharpened so that we can pursue and fulfill God’s plan for our lives. In some ways, my parents have it easy now. They have a community that is right outside their front door, but they still had to make a choice to be in community rather than isolation. They had to open the front door and let others in. They had to walk down the driveway and engage. And sometimes that is difficult.

But, it’s what we all need to do. We need to decide who we are and what our connecting point is to create community. We have to let others in and engage.

We’re building our own small physical community with our soon to be son-in-law and daughter preparing to be our neighbors and Bryce’s brother and his wife eventually moving back to the farm. It will be great to have everyone all together in shared living, but that isn’t our only community.

The communities we engage in and build have shared passion and interests. For us, this includes farming, faith and art. Where do you thrive? Who do you need in your life? If life feels a little dry and lonely right now, I’d encourage you to seek out community or create one. Life will be better for it.

Community is good. And community is where you get the chance to see God at work.

Searching for wisdom and asking for grace,

Jody