Community...?

After our first summer in Wilmore, Alan and I fell into a group of friends. There were three other couples we met with each Saturday night to eat, talk, and unwind from the week. More families joined us, our numbers soon swelling to over 2 dozen adults and kids.

Last evening, as we gathered together for yet another Saturday evening, our friend Amberly sat us down for a talk. After thanking us all for helping her and her family through hard times, and asking forgiveness for any deficit in her friendship to us, Amberly called our attention to the nature of our relationship as a group. Something, she feels, is missing from our time together.

She mentioned that, for people who are part of the Church, we don't always look like a worshipping body. Our friend Kat talked about being transparent but maybe missing out on being vulnerable with one another. Chad described our time together as beautifully mundane.

I won't pretend I heard where everyone was coming from-- understanding other people, I realize, takes a lot of time and hearing them out. But I sensed that all who put in their thoughts were wondering if we couldn't show some solidarity, with each other and with the Lord, when we came together on Saturdays. And maybe a simple something of this nature could produce the community we are all groping around in the dark for.

My own experience with Saturday nights has been quite rocky for some time. As my own life has become filled to the top with obligations and things to sort out, the idea of seeing everyone on Saturdays is sometimes exhausting. To make small talk when something is heavy on my heart is not my forte; yet I have no desire to tell people one by one "Oh yeah, well, my life is going haywire right now so I'd rather just sit here and say nothing, thank you" -- who wants to be the one to rain on everyone's parade?

I'm often reminded of the words of a girl I knew in college. After asking me if I was okay, and hearing me respond with saying I was struggling to keep my head above water, she replied with "Well I just want to have fun!" I'm often nervous of hearing that if I confess my heart to my friends here. It is strange to know a group of people I trust with my life but not with my feelings! And for that I take full responsibilty, for what kind of community can I expect if I don't stick my neck out?

For the sake of space I will finish with this: We should start doing something. I heard recitation of prayer thrown out there, singing a few worship songs, sitting down to update everyone on what's going on in our lives. I'm on board for any of that.

To any of our group reading, I love you all deeply and hope we can find solidarity soon.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead