A big thing on the Race, probably one of the main themes of the Race is Community. Community is not necessarily a scary thing (even for an only child), but it incorporates a lot more than you originally think. Community hasn’t really been a big deal for me so far on the Race. Yeah it has been different living with 5 other people and being around them pretty much 24/7, but it just seems like any other short term mission trip I have been on, only for a longer period of time.
But recently, Community has seen its way creeping into my thoughts, prayers and issues more and more. I am not sure when it started, but Community has been bothering me more and more as of lately. I have not enjoyed Community. I have been annoyed with Community. I have been fed up with Community. I have avoided Community. I have more or less stopped caring about Community. And with a little over 4 months left on the Race, giving up on Community is not something I can afford to do. I don’t want to coast for these next 4 months. (It will actually probably be a really long 4 months if I do that.) I don’t want to not move past these Community issues. I don’t want to be the same Jamie I am now by the time this whole thing is said and done.
So now the question stands:
What does it take in order to make a change??
This is actually something I am still working out in order to change the way I feel about and view Community. The question ‘What does it take’ or ‘What will it take’ is something I ask myself daily in order to change not only my actions towards Community, but also my mindset which is probably the root of all my problems in the first place.
- I have to know that the Community I have been placed in truly does care for me and love me and desires the best for me.
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I have to know that the bonds/relationships in Community won’t always be the best, but they are there for a reason.
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I have to know that Community is part of my growth on this Race and Community is what is going to speak into my life.
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I have to know that beforeCommunity is the way I desire it to be, I have to first act in that manner (ex. Honoring, preferring, affirming, loving).
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I have to know that each person in Community has something to offer me whether I see it right away or not.
I probably haven’t been the best person to have in Community as of lately. But this is definitely something I am growing in. It’s not always going to be pretty, but that is the beauty of it. (Does that sound too cliché?) And I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but starting now, there is going to be a change. Community is now going to be something I embrace. Community is going to be something I look forward to. Community is something I am going to take advantage of. Because there will be no other time in my life when I will I have the type of Community I do here and now. It’s time to find out what it does take and act upon it.
(Family Force 6 just hanging out in a tree)
