Proximity = Community?

Just counted 70 projects available on site. Not completely sure what to do with that. 70 families or individuals being brave enough to request help through an organization they’ve never heard of with people they’ve never met. I’m not sure if I would do this if I had a need. My pride probably would probably cripple me from asking for help. As I think about that, it kind of hurts a bit and it probably is hurting our Lord a bit as well.

God meant for us to be in relationship with one another. To be in close relationship as brothers in sisters so no needs would go unmet. Unfortunately, the world is a broken place and we’ve lost this sense of being. We live spread out all over our city. Some of us live up to 30 minutes away from the churches we attend and maybe the reason we feel we don’t have time for meaningful relationships and small groups is because it’s more of a hassle to pack up the family in the mini-van to drive across town than it’s worth. The steps necessary to love one another well are so daunting that our natural response of comfort and ease wins out. Do you feel this was sometimes? What would it look like if we moved into the same neighborhood as one another and could walk or ride bikes between houses? What if we lived in a neighborhood where the needs were all around us and all we had to do was help the single mom next door watch her kids while she went to the grocery?

I’ve journeyed with a group of guys for a long time now, and I feel this same burden as we discuss issues like this. We live busy lives and we don’t live close to each other and we let the comforts and patterns of life get in the way of us spending quality time sharing life together. We also make serving so difficult to do due to the choices we make. We’ve got a lot to learn.

For those that experience deep community through long relationships and small groups, please hold tight to that. You will be the light of Christ to one another as time speeds by and one of your families hits a rough patch and you’ll gather around them. If you feel this type of community, share it with others, serve together, have fun together, adopt another community, give together. I believe it’s your responsibility to disciple others into great, meaningful relationships.

God is Love, and His Love Is Big