In the past year and some here in Arizona I have recently noticed how insanely blessed I have been to have met the people I have. Not only that, but to have been pursued by them. I found my church home in a small, but powerful community at Kineo church. The first few weeks were rough I'm not going to lie. I have a deep need to know the people around me within my church, and for a short amount of time it was hard to get there. I would say a lot of it was on my end. I was timid, a little shy, and left as soon as church let out. So as you can imagine I was meeting very many people. However, one Sunday afternoon Amy approached me (the pastor's wife). Over the summer she was wanting to start a small women's bible study and wanted me there. I don't know what led her to choose me, but she did and I couldn't be more grateful.
This past summer I've seen myself flourish and grow an insane amount, and I can tell you it wasn't solely because of myself. It wasn't my will power or my pursuit. It was literally out of being loved on by a woman who had no reason to love me, but did anyways. Literally a glimpse of the love Jesus gives us. Amy quickly became a mother to me. Not in a sense that she is much older than me, but because she was there for me in every motherly way I could imagine. From being a crying shoulder to a guiding hand she cared for me.
I had long forgotten that being strictly independent can be lonely and you don't get very far on your own. God created us to be in relationship with each other from the very beginning of time and creation. Genesis 1-3 speaks volumes of that. Without fail the bible tells us we need each other, and isolation is no good. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 tells us that two are better than one, and a three strand cord is not easily broken. We need each other to help when we fall, to bring light where we cannot see ourselves, and to give us strength.
Once Amy opened the door to this community I have just had so many people come into my life willing and wanting to be my friend, leader, and mentor. I've been placed within a loving family. I've had many peers who challenge me and grow me, I've had people in different stages of life speak into me, and I've had a group of women who I am honest and transparent with. Friends, I cannot even begin to tell you how good it feels to be real and not have to maintain a wall or image. It's freeing to be genuine and honest. I've learned so much of grace, forgiveness, joy and just life in general. Life if so messy, and it's good to know I don't face it alone. James 5:16 stresses the importance of exposing our hearts to one another. We cannot heal properly without it.
So my encouragement is this. If you are living in a good community pursue it deeper. Surround yourself with all different types of people in different walks of life. You will learn so so much! If you are without community you have to seek it. Unfortunately small groups and leaders don't come knocking on your door to love you. You have to commit yourself to a place that is full of these people, and most times you have to find them yourself. It's not easy and sometimes it can be frustrating, but it's worth it. You're not going anywhere without it. And just pray. Pray a lot. It's so important that we are also in community with our Father and creator.
Pursue God. Love people. Live in community.
I don't know what gets better than that.
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