The small group I have been part of (I think we're going on 3 years now??) has been so important to me, but it was not until this past week, when we were trying to figure out a time to meet these days in the face of even busier schedules and major life changes, that I realized just how much I need time with them. I know I am a happier person, I know I am a better wife when I have great, intentional time with women during the week to share with them my fears, joys, and concerns, I know I am encouraged in my faith through them. We had such a difficult time emailing back and forth trying to figure out when we could meet to make it work for everyone, and it looked like I was going to be the one who was going to have to step back for the next few months, because I have a prior commitment on the night that seemed to work for everyone else. And I found myself already beginning to grieve not being with them. Which surprised me. It's almost as if the potential for absence was already making my heart grow fonder. I need these women. I need the space to come and be authentic, not hide. I need to be able to ask the questions I'm wrestling with. I need to be silly and girly and talk about the latest sale at The Gap or the Oscars, or church dynamics or sex. (And re-reading this, I do realize that talking about church dynamics is not exactly a typical "girly" topic of conversation, but when you're in a small group of seminarians, it is!) These things are SO important to me, and this morning, after an amazing meal shared with them last night, and our scheduling issues worked out (we found a night that works for everyone!) my heart is full of gratitude for them and I praise God for giving me such a faithful group of friends. And I also praise him for the reminder that it's tough to make it work all the time. Lives get busy and it's easy to say "I just can't make it tonight to small group." But we're trying to be intentional about making one another a priority on that night of the week, to say "no this is important enough that homework or church stuff or other commitments can wait." And I am so thankful we're able and willing to do that!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Commitment to Community
I have always believed community to be important, not just having people to be social with, but having people to really live and share life with. I have always encouraged people to be part of small groups, people to share more deeply with one another, and believe strongly that this is a spiritual discipline we as Christians are called to--sharing life with each other. But I learned this past year, that community, at least this kind of intentional community, doesn't just happen. It takes time, effort, flexibility, intentionality, and some sacrifice to make it happen. And when it does happen, oh what a truly beautiful thing it is!
The small group I have been part of (I think we're going on 3 years now??) has been so important to me, but it was not until this past week, when we were trying to figure out a time to meet these days in the face of even busier schedules and major life changes, that I realized just how much I need time with them. I know I am a happier person, I know I am a better wife when I have great, intentional time with women during the week to share with them my fears, joys, and concerns, I know I am encouraged in my faith through them. We had such a difficult time emailing back and forth trying to figure out when we could meet to make it work for everyone, and it looked like I was going to be the one who was going to have to step back for the next few months, because I have a prior commitment on the night that seemed to work for everyone else. And I found myself already beginning to grieve not being with them. Which surprised me. It's almost as if the potential for absence was already making my heart grow fonder. I need these women. I need the space to come and be authentic, not hide. I need to be able to ask the questions I'm wrestling with. I need to be silly and girly and talk about the latest sale at The Gap or the Oscars, or church dynamics or sex. (And re-reading this, I do realize that talking about church dynamics is not exactly a typical "girly" topic of conversation, but when you're in a small group of seminarians, it is!) These things are SO important to me, and this morning, after an amazing meal shared with them last night, and our scheduling issues worked out (we found a night that works for everyone!) my heart is full of gratitude for them and I praise God for giving me such a faithful group of friends. And I also praise him for the reminder that it's tough to make it work all the time. Lives get busy and it's easy to say "I just can't make it tonight to small group." But we're trying to be intentional about making one another a priority on that night of the week, to say "no this is important enough that homework or church stuff or other commitments can wait." And I am so thankful we're able and willing to do that!
The small group I have been part of (I think we're going on 3 years now??) has been so important to me, but it was not until this past week, when we were trying to figure out a time to meet these days in the face of even busier schedules and major life changes, that I realized just how much I need time with them. I know I am a happier person, I know I am a better wife when I have great, intentional time with women during the week to share with them my fears, joys, and concerns, I know I am encouraged in my faith through them. We had such a difficult time emailing back and forth trying to figure out when we could meet to make it work for everyone, and it looked like I was going to be the one who was going to have to step back for the next few months, because I have a prior commitment on the night that seemed to work for everyone else. And I found myself already beginning to grieve not being with them. Which surprised me. It's almost as if the potential for absence was already making my heart grow fonder. I need these women. I need the space to come and be authentic, not hide. I need to be able to ask the questions I'm wrestling with. I need to be silly and girly and talk about the latest sale at The Gap or the Oscars, or church dynamics or sex. (And re-reading this, I do realize that talking about church dynamics is not exactly a typical "girly" topic of conversation, but when you're in a small group of seminarians, it is!) These things are SO important to me, and this morning, after an amazing meal shared with them last night, and our scheduling issues worked out (we found a night that works for everyone!) my heart is full of gratitude for them and I praise God for giving me such a faithful group of friends. And I also praise him for the reminder that it's tough to make it work all the time. Lives get busy and it's easy to say "I just can't make it tonight to small group." But we're trying to be intentional about making one another a priority on that night of the week, to say "no this is important enough that homework or church stuff or other commitments can wait." And I am so thankful we're able and willing to do that!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment