Community

This topic hit me again this weekend. Back in October I wrote about our anniversary trip to the mountains and riding a motorcycle on the Parkway. When we were on the motorcycle, every other motorcycle rider would wave when we passed. I can’t really explain the feeling I felt — well, maybe it was acceptance — acceptance into a community known to be tight-knit. It felt good to feel a part of something larger than myself. We went out to eat this weekend and saw some cops taking a meal break and I thought about how cops are a pretty tight-knit community too.

A community can be formed around anything really — owning a motorcycle, choice of profession, even a common thread like a certain kind of cancer. To join one of these communities, you’d need to own a motorcycle, choose that profession or have a similar experience. When I think about community and churches though it saddens me. You’d think that in a church, we’d have the greatest community in the world. We are all sinners saved by God’s grace (similar experience). You’d think we would all be accepting of each other. In some churches I’ve seen too many little groups inside — take a look at the youth group as an example. You’ve always got the athletic ones, the popular girls, the nerdy ones, etc. It’s easy to be around those who are like yourself, who do the same things, who think the same ways. We all have the desires to be accepted by others, to be around those who have common interests.

It’s a shame when other communities can be closer to each other based on a material possession than based on a great and wonderful God. The next time you go to church, look around. Is there someone who’s been fading into the background because they don’t fit into one of the “cool” groups at church? Reach out to that person. Get out of your comfort zone. Talk to someone you wouldn’t normally talk to. Look around at other areas of your life also. What about your child’s school? I notice big divisions between the parents and I’m sure that translates to the kids as well.

There once was a mother who came to the school every afternoon to pick up her 2 boys. I knew she was new to the area, and I also saw how some of the other “cool moms” kinda looked down on her. She was a very pretty lady who dressed rather sexy — hair perfect, makeup perfect, tight fitting shirts, etc. If you know me (sweats, ball tshirts, hair scrunchy and no makeup) you know I’m nothing like this lady — at least on the outside. I made it a point to start talking to her and introducing her to other friends I have. She was a very sweet lady who was struggling on the inside with many issues. I talked to her often and tried to plant some Jesus seeds. A few months later she ended up moving away and I’ve lost touch with her. I continue to think about her and what it might have been like if I hadn’t gone out of my way to get to know her.

I guess much of this has turned into “don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” but probably more accurately is don’t judge at all. Get to know people. If you’re shy, pick just one. Someone you wouldn’t normally talk to in the circles you run. Get to know them inside. Look at them through God’s eyes — not worldly ones.