I was reading a book the other day and the author was talking about community and the fears that people often have. In her research, she realized that a common fear among people is the idea of being all alone. A lightbulb moment happened right then! Oh, you mean that I am not alone in this whisper that nags at my heart telling me that I am all alone!? I realize the irony in that last sentence! I actually believed Satan’s lie that I was all alone in my fear of being alone! So, let’s acknowledge today that a lot of people feel this way. If you are one of them - you are not alone. Community is not always easily assessable to all of us. Some of us, depending on our location, language barriers, cultural setting may need to try harder than some to find community. I recently moved to a new country and a new ministry context. I am walking into a tight group of people who have already forged strong community. It takes a lot of energy being on the outside trying to join in but it is happening, little by little.  

We were not created to be alone. We were created for relationship - with God and with others. Community is a gift, but being in community is often complicated and broken. But anything really worth having is worth fighting for. We need to work at having community. Good, healthy, life-giving relationships don’t happen without effort and forgiveness and humility. 

So, my encouragement to you today is to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)