Community

     In the organization I am currently involved in, we talk a lot and I mean A LOT about community. One would say that our sole purpose is to create a Christian community on my campus. All this talking about community has me wondering what community really means and looks like. Is it just a clique of people who look the same and act the same? Is it a group of people doing the same things trying to reach a goal? Or is it something more?

     In my last post, I talked about loneliness and how God fills that emotional void we all stumble upon. I do believe that God is sufficient in all of our needs, but I also believe that He also gives us the "cherry on top"! In our culture, the "cherry on top" always means that extra special treat that creates that perfect sundae. Now we all know that a sundae by itself is wonderfully delicious and fulfilling, but that extra cherry on top makes it just the more indulgent and even exciting. I believe that God gives us community with other believers just for this purpose. 

     "God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature...God created human beings;  he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature." The key word that I see in this verse is "our". God is not some freaky creature from Lord of the Rings speaking in plurals for no reason! When He says "our", He means the Trinity. People across all beliefs have questioned and questioned the meaning of the Trinity, but put as simply as possible, the Trinity is the union and unity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One being that fulfills three purposes fully (1 John 5:7). I am not here to debate all the theological views on the Trinity, but that is the simplest view of what the Bible has to say about it. Anyways back to community, I believe that since God has made us in His image we are made to be in community or communion with others. Dictionary.com describes communion as an, "interchange or sharing of thoughts or emotions; intimate communication" and "the act of sharing, or holding in common; participation".

     So I know I have drowned you with information, but I do have a point to make! Community is NOT just a group of people that look the same, act the same, or speak the same. Community is a body of God inspired, reflected, and re-created people sharing their thoughts, communicating intimate emotions, and participating in each others lives. How sweet is that? So not only do we have the God of the universe to have intimate relationship with, but we also have a body of God-inspired believers to share our lives with!

    I think of these truths and marvel at the fact that our world is still hurting and broken. God has not created us to live lives apart from Him or each other. So why does it take us so long to understand these things? Why do we continue to live our lives estranged from God and hiding from people? I think the best way to counteract this conundrum is to start being open and honest with God and man. Let your life be an open book and let others in! It is so fulfilling and freeing to let others love you! Don't hide any longer, but live your life like an open book, willing for others to read and study your pages. Also let others have the ability for editing in your story, so that you can grow together! I know God has called you to live a life that is in communion with Him and others! So start Living. :)

Why do I feel so lonely?

     I think as a people we are struggling with a loneliness so deep that it rocks our core selves. It changes us. It distorts who we are supposed to be. It alters our view of the world. It alters how we love. I have been suffering from this loneliness, quietly and behind the scenes. Outwardly, I am bubbly, joyous, confidant, happy. Inwardly, I am bleeding, screaming for someone to notice me, the real me. That is our way. We hide behind smiles so that no one sees who we are, but all the while desperately wanting just that. Someone to notice. Someone to care. Someone to love us. 
     I wondered for a long time why we do this. There are billions of people on this earth. Why are we all struggling, when we could reach out to one another. I started to reach out to others. A one woman show to change the world. It was exhausting. There are so many people with need. As I started to pour myself out, I noticed that my cup was never being filled. I was still bleeding. I looked to those I loved and asked myself why they were not reaching out to me. Why was I the only one trying to help? 
     During this time, God revealed something to me that was so profound, comforting, and painfully obvious. Why are we expecting people (flawed and inherently evil) to fill a void that only HE can fill? He created us to be in communion with Him. He created us to have a natural need for intimacy with Him. He created us to love Him. When we forget that we were created to have relationship with Him, we forget who we are and why we are here. We start looking for that love and intimacy in people, material items, sex, drugs, media, food, exercise  movies, and the list goes on and on. We start to have unhealthy thirsts for these things. These thirsts can NEVER be quenched. We will always want more. Jesus says in John 4:13-14 that , "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." That is such an exciting thought to me! To know that I never have to struggle with this awful loneliness ever again helps me to breath easier and feel lighter!
     Now that we know God's promise, it is our duty to remember it. When you are feeling lonely, get into the presence of the Lord. Don't become a slave to worldly and finite quick fixes, but dive deeper into your relationship with God. Let him be apart of your everyday life. Every negative thought or action should not go unheard, let Him in on the secret. You can be honest with Him about your faults and know that He brings renewed strength and love. His love will help you open up to others and share with them your struggles and strengths. 
     I hope this post helps someone who is struggling silently. Do not be silent any longer! Speak! Share your life with God because He is living! He yearns for us to reach out to Him and share our lives with him :)