Community
Having a community is crucial to having a great peaceful life. It’s true. I have argued against having a community for most of my life. I had been hurt by so many people that I completely gave up on having friends or even many acquaintances outside of my workplace.
The key is to have a good community around you. One that is full of people who know you, know a lot about you, but still don’t hold it against you. Instead, they lift you up when you are down, carry you when you can’t carry yourself, and will cheer you on when you win. That type of community seems to be very rare these days. Our lives are so busy, too busy in my opinion. We have lost compassion for others and only focus on ourselves or our family most of the time. We choose to ignore the people hurting or struggling around us.
For the first time in my life I have found that supportive community. It wasn’t at a gym, or a hunting club, or some type of online community. It was at a church believe it or not. A place that has hurt me so many times over the course of my life. Not this specific one, but I have had a lot of hurt stems from different churches I have attended throughout my life. I allowed myself to get so guarded and cold to others in the world because of the past events in my life. I was scared to let anyone new into my life again.
That all changed a couple years ago. I was coerced into attending an event I did not want to attend, but it changed me forever. I finally saw why I shut out everyone and why I had so much unforgiveness in my heart. I knew after that event, I had to do something different. After that, I dove into church more than I ever have in my life. I still didn’t talk to anyone, but I was finally open to learning about the word. That was also the time of losing my son and instead of running towards self-destructive ways to mitigate the pain, I ran towards something that would give me life.
The day I finally gave in to attending a men’s group will forever be one of those days that I will look back on and be happy with myself. I went against my own will and followed what the word instructs us to do.
Romans 12:4-5
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
It is written all over the Bible to help one another, support one another, give to each other, pray for and with each other, etc. The list goes on. It never says to live in isolation or to avoid others. A lot of people live their lives like I did for most of my life. Alone, sad, and empty. I had family, and a few friends, but it wasn’t as fulfilling as having a group of people who I can count on and that they can count on me. There is something different there that you cannot get any other way.
This week I encourage you to make sure you are surrounded by good people. People who want to build you up and not tear you down. People who will stand in the gap for you when you are struggling. People you will sacrifice your own time for as well. If you don’t have that yet, be open to it when you get next opportunity, just know you will most likely have to take that first step into the community because you have to choose to be a part of it.