Devotional - Summer 2024
BUILDING COMMUNITY ~ Judith & Peter Lake
Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Matthew 22:39)
Community is a bold-colored, dominant thread woven throughout the fabric of scripture from Genesis to Revelation. God created us to live, learn, love Him, and love one another -- as individuals, and as a community. As a group we find identity and belonging. I like this dictionary definition: “Community has a strange power to it. It conveys a sense of togetherness and positivity.” When I consider this meaning, I think first of our community of believers at Springton Lake Church, and about our being a part of the body of Christ there. As a church, we worship, pray, study, share, serve, and fellowship together. We are joined to one another in our faith in Christ, and belong to Someone and Something much greater than ourselves. Over the last months, in both our celebrations and sufferings, we have grown more united in Spirit as Jesus has interceded for us, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me – so that they may be one as we are one.” (John 17:11b)
Second to our church, I think of our neighborhood, town, nearby city, and even our far-off Zowe village in Malawi, as our community. Before He departed from this world, Jesus told His disciples, “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The Spirit calls and equips us to serve in different places, and at different times, starting in our “Jerusalem” – our own neighborhood.
For years someone on our two adjoining streets hosted an annual block party. One year, we held a barbeque for over 100 people in our backyard for lots of food, games, and fireworks. Most importantly, neighbors became re-acquainted, or acquainted for the first time, and friendships were formed. Even now, people still talk about that great night!
Covid ended our block parties, until this last weekend when Peter and I hosted a gathering for our street and two other adjacent streets. Peter made up flyers with an invitation to come with picnic suppers, a little something to share, and a chair or blanket to sit on. Many new people have moved into our neighborhood since covid, and several young families with little children and babies are now a part of our small community. Thankfully, it was a beautiful weather night, and 40 men, women, and children came to celebrate our lives together.
Peter and I were thrilled to watch people connect – some for the first time -- and to hear great conversations filling the air. There was much laughter, and deeper talks between parents holding their babies; men and women with similar jobs; retired folks who now enjoy more leisurely lifestyles, and the kids had a fabulous time playing games, and making s’mores at the firepit. The highlight of the night was Cathy asking Peter if we could have a big group sharing time so that we could get to know our neighbors better. Adam Summers, with his commanding voice, asked everyone to push back their chairs into one big circle, and for each person, in turn, to tell their name, address, and one thing that they would want people to know about them. And so, we went around the circle – listening carefully to every person (even each kid) share a little of their stories. Several people commented that most everyone in our neighborhood smiles and waves to people passing by in cars, or by foot, even when we don’t know the person. All of us laughed and agreed that we were a friendly group, and that made our community a wonderful place to live. It was a special, sweet time of learning about others. Now when we pass on the street, we will be able to talk about more than just the weather. Just one personal example that was meaningful to me was listening to Bob. He wrote and illustrated a comic book that he recently published on Amazon, and I wrote a 1970s memoir that I also recently published on Amazon. We joined up at the end of the evening to talk further about our writing experiences – and a deeper friendship was made. Peter calls this sharing “Connections @ Intersections” and we believe that these newly formed relationships were, in fact, “divine appointments,” -- God bringing people together.
Peter and I often ask ourselves, “How can we become more others-oriented?” Living in a “me first” society – fractured with much discord and brokenness in relationships – it is not easy to step out of our comfort zones. However, God’s Word encourages us to be more intentional about putting into practice loving our neighbors. May we, with God’s help, grow closer to one another -- showing His love and care for each person we meet in our community.
“Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal, or a bed when it’s needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it.”
(Hebrews 13:1-2 ~ The Message)
