These people. These crazy fabulous people I am surrounded by… We’ve traveled together, shared bunk beds together, eaten together, prayed, laughed, cried, fought, encouraged, annoyed, sang, danced, acted, taught, worked out, watched countless movies, and celebrated holidays together. We’ve dressed up as one another, braided each others hair, gotten sick together, been literally jammed in vehicles together, and frequently skype each other while still out on the field. We… love each other. A lot.
I’m kind of obsessed with these people I’ve been galavanting around the
world with.
world with.
And that brings me to what I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately… People. And relationships. It really shouldn’t be a surprise to me that God’s taken me further into my love for people. When becoming a killer whale trainer just wasn’t working out, I knew it was because He wanted me concerned with people more than whales (shocker). We joke that on the world race you spend 26 hours a day with people, so this was quite an opportunity for me to get a feel for living in a close community.
Relationships and living in community have undoubtedly been the primary way in which the Lord has spoken to me this past year. This is actually two-fold. Through the community I have here and the community I have at home. The relationships I already possessed and the ones that I’ve been beyond blessed to have made have done a number on my life in the most incredible of ways. He used the people around me to teach me more about Himself. He used relationships in my life to teach me more about His relationship with me The best part is that I truly believe this is just the beginning. Realizing the importance of relationships is such a precious thing. And the impact that people can have on one another. God tells us how to live and its super simple: love Him, love people. In loving people we are loving Him. And when we love Him, we will be propelled to love people. They’re intertwined, hand in hand. The New Testament is flooded with the consistent call to unity among believers.
It’s easy to live in unity when Love is fueling you. At home I have a fabulous community with my family and close knit friends, where we are constantly loving each other in the fullness of Christ’s Love. I have been convicted to dive deeper into that, to pour more into the people that I’ve been surrounded by, and to extend that beyond just the people who know me inside and out. I’ve seen and been a part of many different communities around the world. In Ireland, in Tanzania, in Nicaragua, I have seen thriving communities following Christ and living together in unity.
“All the believers were together and had everything in
common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he
had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple
courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and
sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47
common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he
had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple
courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and
sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47
Together we are a body. HIS body! We are His hands and feet. Christ’s body was not meant to be sedintary, self indulgent, and lazy. Just as our physical bodies feel antsy and gross when we veg out all the time, we as Christians should feel antsy and gross when we are doing nothing to utilize our spiritual hands and feet. It’s all too easy to get caught in a routine in which our efforts spiral into mostly self-focused things. It’s all too easy for me to caught in that. But, ‘I see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith.’ Selfless faith means pushing the opposite way of that spiral. Selfless faith includes walking this life together.
As you can see, God’s been sparking some things within my heart about people, and
it’s through living in community with these ones that He’s done it. A lot of
the time its been extremely hard, especially for an introvert like
myself. But the movement of the Holy Spirit in it all has been
undeniable and for that I must have more. It’s no surprise that I see Him moving so much through my relationships with His kids. He doesn’t just sit on the sidelines of our lives, He’s a really involved Daddy 🙂
it’s through living in community with these ones that He’s done it. A lot of
the time its been extremely hard, especially for an introvert like
myself. But the movement of the Holy Spirit in it all has been
undeniable and for that I must have more. It’s no surprise that I see Him moving so much through my relationships with His kids. He doesn’t just sit on the sidelines of our lives, He’s a really involved Daddy 🙂
