Community .. SUCKS.
Why you ask?
Well, imagine for a moment that you're stuck with the same SEVEN people 24 hours a day for about a week. You love them all to death, and enjoy time with them – individually – but there's something to be said about the confinements that community brings.
Don't believe me that it could be THAT bad?
Oh, well just wait for this …
Let's say that you have ummm … a migraine?
All you need is a dark space with silence.
Normally, you would shut yourself in the room, crank down the A/C,
and enjoy the silence that an empty apartment brings you.
But- this is community.
Soooo… that means you're in a confined space.
Three people are busting out worship songs in the living room,
one of your female housemates is ruffling through her pack,
the room you're in is pushing about 100 degrees,
another housemate is skyping,
another is preaching about something or another,
and you're about to leave for even more community
with the community you are there to minister too..
OR, there's only one bathroom for both your team and your hosts (we're up to 12 people here).
A fellow housemate is in the shower (without a curtain) for what feels like forever because you HAVE TO PEE, like SO bad ..
Then,
when they finally get out,
a different housemate beats you to the bathroom
and proceeds to take their shower.
Yep, patience is a virtue.
One that obviously I have yet to fully comprehend.
Then there's that moment when you're planning your schedule as a community. Everyone has GREAT ideas about what they want to do and you just sit there, thinking OMIGOSH, WHERE is my alone time? Can we please schedule THAT?
Oh, or when you're in the middle of a grocery store, and everyone has opinions?
Or when you can't see the floor because the packs seem to have vomited out their insides?
The list could go on.. and on (and will most likely grow).
BUT,
There is nothing like community.
Like that time when you feel so alone,
and a fellow housemate just sits with you
in silence to remind you that
you're not.
Or when you're struggling to carry a heavy load and the men of the house grab the weight from your hands.
How about that time when a fellow housemate tries to open a bag of juice (yes, BAG)
and it spurts all over the table in front of your hosts
which results in everyone laughing until they cry?
Maybe it's that time when your hosts drive you out of the way to a Wendy's to get an 'hamberguesa' because they can see the homesickness in your eyes and you spend dinner laughing at the American songs and analogies that are made.
Perhaps community is truly beautiful when you're worshipping together, thanking our Father for His provision and safety, and you hear your non-english speaking housemates singing the same song, but in their language.
Yes, community can suck.
But it also can be beautiful.
God made it that way.
Don't cha know?
Iron sharpens Iron
(and oh boy does community allow for THAT to happen.)
Yep, community does suck.
But, it's truly beautiful.
<3tasha
