"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some have the habit of doing, but encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25
I have always thought of community as those who I am physically with. Those who I have met in person through church, family, friends, or work. In 2011, I began walking a journey to continue my late sister Sara’s spirit led discipleship of Choose Joy. What I instantly realized is that experiencing love through community isn’t just those we are physically present with or even those we have met face to face. I realized the depth of community love in online relationships. Sara was homebound the last three years of her life. She couldn’t leave the four walls of her home. Yet, she found love and community through her online relationships. Those relationships were deep and they were real. Sara sought them out. Sara was homebound, but it didn’t limit her life, it only limited her location. God calls us to be in community with one another. He never expected us to do this life alone. That's why He gave us the greatest commandment to love one another... not a command to love and rely solely on ourselves. God believed in community living, and as an example of that He created a community in and of Himself. He is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit because one being in and of itself is not enough to produce real life, total thought and complete love. It is up to us to seek out the love of community. I know for me personally, I have to be even more intentional in seeking out community today than ever before. With the isolation of COVID and being a dominate introvert, it is easy for me to hide and withdraw from community. The result…my mind gets overwhelmed with my own thoughts and depression sets in. When I choose to be in community and keep my focus on the community I am with, instead of my own weariness, life doesn't seem to weigh me down as much. If God himself requires a community of three within His one being, maybe I shouldn't try so hard to do this life myself either. I am praying to be more intentional in seeking out the LOVE of community! To CHOOSE LOVE. Isolation doesn’t have to limit my life, only my location. How have you been creative in seeking out community when you are feeling isolated and/or alone? With love and joy,
Laura Pedersen