(I thought it'd be nice to address my new perspective on the topic.
The original blog post on community (from Jan) can be read here.
Let's just say that my opinion has changed a wee bit,)
It's been six months of community.
That's half a year of living in constant community with at least five other people.
24 hours a day.
7 days a week.
Always together.
We eat together.
Minister together.
Sleep together.
Clean together.
Forever together.
Plus, we have team-time every night
where we gather together (again)
and discuss our plans of future togetherness
and how we can be better when we're together.
It's a life full of people.
Always full of people.
And it's absolutely beautiful.
When I first walked on the race, I was completely in shock with what it meant to live in community.
I was baffled by how I could so easily be annoyed by absolutely nothing of importance.
Silly things just dug under my skin.
Things like someone unzipping their pack too loudly,
(Like they can control how loud a zipper is.)
Or someone tripping over the fan cord and causing a halt in air flow.
Sometimes it would be as simple as stirring coffee too loud, or forgetting to shut off the light.
When you're put into situations that take away your freedom and your comfort,
your reaction to what's happening can be a bit
overboard.
And you're forced to face WHY you're over-reacting.
You're forced to become transparent.
The veil is removed
and you're suddenly staring five strangers in the face,
exposed and vulnerable.
Community isn't easy.
I wake up some days wanting nothing more than to be alone.
I wish I had my own bed, my own space, my own bathroom.
I'd love to make my own decisions or travel through customs without having to wait on 30 other people.
Sure, a life without community would probably be easier.
But then, it wouldn't be the life that God is calling us to.
Community brings forth accountability and encouragement.
It sharpens you.
And sharpening hurts.
It's painful.
But . . it's beautiful.
I've grown to love community.
In fact, I'd say that I'm in love with it.
Why?
Because God has used it to transform me into a force of nature for Him.
He's used it to create in me the traits of a Proverbs 31 woman.
He's taught me patience.
He's shown me what it means to have a gentle spirit, what it means to love beyond fault.
He's given me the opportunity to give grace to those around me
which has opened my eyes to how merciful He truly is.
It's been a lesson in sacrifice.
It's been a lesson in what it means to give grace.
And I'd say it's been, by far, the greatest teacher on the race.
Living for Christ is about serving others.
Community puts you in a place where it's no longer an option; it's a requirement.
But as you allow God to transform you,
it becomes a way of life; just as He intended.
<3tasha
