We have been given the assignment to write a blog answering the question “What does community mean to you?” Obviously, being apart of a program called Community Life, this is the eternal question. What is community to me? And how does that intersect with what the people I am trying to live in community with think that community is? And when it comes down to it, God, what is community to You??? What is Your heart for your children living this life together? And ultimately, how will that prepare us to live eternity out together in your kingdom?
These are the questions that keep me awake many a night.
Honestly, the more I have tried walking out community these past 5 months, the only conclusion I have come to is that I don’t know too much about what community really is. I came into this thing with some years of experience,, a little been there, done that type of confidence and honestly, God has put me through the ringer. All of my pre-conceived notions and blueprints I have tried to work from have been stripped away. As a leader, trying to figure out how “to make all this work”, I have had to come to terms with my own limitations and weakness. And I am left feeling a little vulnerable, and a little helpless.
I think that is exactly where He wants me right now.
In Exodus 33, Moses is in deep intercession. Things had not been going well. The Israelites have done their fair share of grumbling. They don’t like the manna. They complain that they were better off in slavery than walking in freedom. Moses comes down the mountain with the direct words and decrees of God in his hands, and found them dancing around a golden calf. He exhausted every bit of leadership know how he had. He tried every tactic to get their attention. Including getting pissed. (Could you imagine the leader of your nation flying into a rage, burning things and making you drink the ashes?) He finally pleads: “God I am at the end of myself. Things aren’t working like I thought. I have no idea what the next step is. So, I won’t go any farther unless you are going with me. Remember your promise to me.”
And then what happens? Not only does God grant his request, He takes it a step further. After the reassurance of God’s promise to go with them, Moses then says, “Show me your glory.” Even the knowledge that God was coming wasn’t enough. Moses needed the tangible presence of God to fall. Nothing less than that would suffice. There was no way he could lead these people into the fullness of God’s promises without it.
So, where ya going with this, Jess?, you are probably asking. And honestly, I don’t exactly know. I began this blog with the intent to list a few ways that I have seen community evident in my life. My fingers started typing away on the keyboard and out this came. All I can say is that my heart’s cry echoes Moses’. Apart from the tangible presence and revelation of Jesus Christ in my life, and the life of my community, I will never find the answer to this question that can keep me up at night. I think I am finally getting to the place where I stop fumbling for those blue prints and experiences and just ask for His glory to come.
So, what is community to me? I think at this point I can only say that it is nothing short of supernatural.
