“What is community?” by Laura Beck
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:20)
Community. I was curious so I looked up the dictionary definition. The first one was: “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.” The second one was “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.”
Using these definitions as a guide, I found that I have been a part of many communities, because I have moved around a lot. It’s easy for me to join communities, and strike up casual acquaintances with folks who share a similar location, faith, and belief system. Sometimes, I might even find a new friend or two.
But there is a drawback to moving so much. Sometimes, although I am a member of a community, it feels superficial. On the surface. Like folks share something, but that’s the extent of it. They don’t take the time to really get to know me. Sometimes, if people have been part of a community for a long time, there are even cliques or sub-groups within the community, and it can be hard to break into those.
I suppose it’s on me as much as others to try to establish those bonds. And I suppose different communities serve different purposes in our lives. Just like that saying about people coming into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime, I suppose it is the same with communities. And when you find that you outgrow one community, you will most likely find another one that fits you better at that moment. The key is not to be alone, but to seek out other people.
Jesus, just like you had your apostles and disciples to share time, stories, and meals with, may we also find the community connections we need when we need them.