If you are a future racer, this blog is not for you; I advise you to go to training camp highly unprepared (This advice coming from an Eagle Scout).
If you had to list one ingredient necessary for a successful Christian life, what would it be?
Of course we have Jesus, church, scripture reading, worship, and many other good things, but what is the one key ingredient?
In these last two weeks, I’ve trekked 20 miles of the Appalachian trail; slept in a tent, bus, airport, on the ground, in a hammock, and standing up. I’ve showered via a bucket, watched the sun rise over the mountains, wept like a child, and stood as resolute as a warrior.
Every trial encountered was faced head-on; not by myself, not by my leaders, but by my brothers and sisters in Christ who stood resolute by my side.
Community.
When we ate out of the same bowl with only our fingers, we did it in community.
When we men shrieked and howled while showering with buckets of frigid water, we did it in community.
When we cried out to God in repentance, we did it in community.
When we rose to rebuke the enemy head-on, we did it in community.
When we stood watch against the powers of darkness, we did it in community.
When we witnessed the healing power of Jesus’ name, we did it in community.
Leaving that community was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I felt like Peter on the mount of transfiguration, pleading with God to reside there forever.
Obviously, I had to return to “normal” life.
After living in such close community, the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced, and the closest relationships I’ve ever had, I am faced with the harsh reality that such community does not exist in “normal” life.
Why? Why doesn’t that community exist? Why don’t we have close relationships like that in our daily lives?
Why do we sit by ourselves in the car while going to work?
Why do we shut out life every time we put in our earbuds?
Why do we only meet on Sundays and Wednesday nights, if that?
Why do we automatically turn to our phones every time there is silence?
Why is it “awkward” to be heavily involved in each other’s lives?
Community is key.
I witnessed a friend’s miraculous healing, prophesy that spat in the face of “coincidence”, darkness flee before us, and experienced a closer relationship with God than ever before.
I witnessed these things because of community.
We were involved in each other’s lives.
We lifted each other up in prayer.
We gave each other words of affirmation.
We kept each other from stumbling.
Today we are more “connected” than ever before, yet never further apart.
You will never experience the pure electric feeling of 250 youth dedicated to creating Heaven on Earth without community.
