Community

I am coming to a deeper and deeper understanding and appreciation for the gift of community. I don’t mean “the community” (as in an ecumenical community like the one I spent some of my young years as part of). Rather I mean community in a broader sense. Certainly a good part of my community is my parish. It is people and families we have known and rubbed elbows with for many, many years. I also have community among other groups of friends, old friends, new friends.

Just before Christmas, a young man in our parish died. He was 18, the same age as my sister. I don’t know him personally – other than seeing his sweet face fairly regularly at Sunday Mass. I don’t know his family well, and really they probably don’t know who I am. I wasn’t able to attend his funeral, but there was this deep sense of loss that whole week. Not a personal loss, since I didn’t know him, but loss nonetheless. Part of "us” has left. It’s a community loss. But his death was such a poignant reminder to me of what a gift community is, living in communion with one another, being the hands and feet of Christ for each other. Community. 

Some of my good friends came into town over Christmas. As always, they stayed with her parents and family and as always, I landed myself over there for a visit. I don’t see my friend’s family all that often these days, but I just absolutely love them. It is such a joy to land on their porch and be welcomed with open arms, not shooed away because I’m cutting in on precious family time, but welcomed into the family time and usually fed some delicious meal too. Community.

On New Year’s eve, my plans were of the last minute variety. Earlier plans had fallen through and so I was suddenly free. My friends invited me to their celebration—good times, lots of crazy munchkins. And from there I stopped to deliver a moment of encouragement to a friend who was home sick. And then on to another friend’s house for a game night and ushering the new year. I am so blessed by the friendships in my life—Community! 

The other day I came home from work to find a pan of sticky buns on my counter from a friend who lives a few minutes away. Community. (Erin – you rock!)

Today my second mom stopped in to drop off a Christmas gift and we got to catch up – something that doesn’t happen often enough. I am blown away at the depth and the gift of this woman in my life. Her honesty, her wisdom, and the faithfulness that she lives as an example to me. And the fact that she takes a few minutes in her busy life to pray for me, to buy me Christmas towels, and more than that, that she shares her life with me. I am blown away. Community. The love of God made visible.

This evening I made dinner for some friends who just had their first baby. They are very close friends of my brother and the new dad’s sister is one of my closest friends. As I was trying to figure out what to cook, it hit me again, THIS is such an important part of community! I may not see these friends often or hang out all the time, but they are nearly family to me. And I am certainly going to cook some chicken when they have a baby! And the arrival of such a sweet little person warms me all the way through—little Michael is part of this amazing bunch of people that I call community. What a gift!

Today I am blown away and thankful for the gift of community.