Importance of Community

Hey my friends, hope all is well. Surprise!! Any of you who follow this blog are not used to having another one our this soon! The plan is to get a few post out every week moving forward.

I have enjoyed writing this so much over the last year, I don’t understand why since my last big surgery it has been so hard for me to stay consistent. Maybe it does have something to do with the part of my brain that was cut out. Michael and Kimberly who are both great writers have offered to help me with this and I am hoping to be a little more consistent. Having my son and daughter in law participating some could also add some value to what I am trying to do.

Here’s an idea for you. I believe it is worth some reflection and hope you who read this will consider how this idea impacts your life. “How important is community?”

I have been practicing community my entire adult life. I realize when we talk about “community” it can have many different ideas and definitions. When I talk about community, I am reflecting on the important relationships we share with others. Relationships that are not one-sided, the relationships we have with others that we laugh, cry, learn about ourselves and others, relationships that encourage, grow our faith, ultimately the ones we do life together.

My reality is that there are different levels of “community relationships” and they all matter. When I was diagnosed with this brain tumor so many different ways people have, encouraged and blessed me. Many of those people I have never seen or talked to. What they have done matters. Many of those were connected to community from the past or community that never involved a deeper level of friendship and time together.

When I think about a deeper level of community, that group of friends and family get smaller. These are people who have spent time with me. Many times listening to me ramble about my health, the unknown and things that really matter to me. It is also the importance of those people who share many of their thoughts and experiences. That closer group, I always feel loved and accepted.

That is a quick overview of some thoughts and values of community. My concern for others is that in my ministry and counseling work, I have experienced so many men and women who literally don’t have “quality community.” That has always been sad to me.

What do you think creates quality community and what keeps some people from experiencing community?

Remember you are “loved and of great value.”