Tag: Community/Friendship

My One Word and A New Series

~ Emily ~ 8 Comments

This post was supposed to be a vlog (video blog), but I chickened out.  I told myself I didn’t have time.  Let’s be real.  My perfectionism would turn a 2-3 minute video in to a whole day project. So, technically, I really didn’t have time…

In this vlog, I was going to introduce the One Word, which has swiftly turned into three or four words (but who’s counting?), that will shape Primitive Roads this year.  AND, I was going to introduce a coinciding series that’s starting here on Wednesday.  Until I conquer my stage fright, you’ll have to stick with a normal post.

This past week, I said goodbye to my childhood home.

Since I hadn’t been back to Southern California in four months, I was too busy enjoying family, friends, and Mexican food to thoroughly process the last-time-here truth. Ten very formative years were spent in that home and I won’t be sleeping there the next time I’m in California.

It’s weird.  It’s sad.  It’s more weird than sad.  That’s mostly because I’m realizing (not in a pleasantly passive way, but in a yourworldischangingandyoucantstopit type way) that life isn’t static.

Even the things I perceive as consistent change over time.  Different seasons demand different boundaries, different desires, and different priorities.

As seasons shift, it’s important to shift with them or pray for a shiftable spirit.

I have preserved a fairly immovable spirit during this new season.  Much has changed in the past year and I’ve often been immobilized by all the newness.  For the sake of my emotional and spiritual health, it’s time to be intentional about praying for shiftiness (in the best sense of the word, of course).

My word/theme for 2013 – in life and here on Primitive Roads – is intentionality.  I’d like to be more purposeful about my words, my thoughts, my actions.

What better area to start being intentional than community – another of my words.

I’ve experienced a major shift in community the past few months and struggle to accept a new season of friendships, accountability, and fellowship.

Though drastically opposite of my natural proclivity, it’s about time I started jogging this primitive road instead of tripping over the pebbles.  January posts will look at community – an area I need to infuse with purpose – from a wide range of perspectives.

Won’t you join me on this primitive road towards intentional community?

Community Series

 

The New Community

~ Emily ~ 5 Comments

I’m beginning to realize that Christian community is quite the chameleon.  Community is a constantly evolving concept, changing just as much as its members.  On the most fundamental level, the Christian community encompasses all believers, however, the power of community lies less in numbers and more in intimately doing life with other Christ-followers.   In community, we walk these primitive roads together – carrying each other’s burdens, encouraging each other to press forward, simply, loving each other.

Leaving California meant leaving my community – a group of twenty-somethings trying to figure this life out together.  We succeeded.  We failed.  Together.  These women were my friends, my confidants, my bridesmaids, my cheering squad, my sounding board.  They still are those things, but, with 1300 miles between us, our community looks different.

Different is difficult for me.  I have become oh so aware that, as with many things in life, community has seasons.  One of my anxieties about moving to Idaho was the unknown community factor.  Who will our friends be? How will we plug-in outside of the youth group?  Will people like us?  How long will it take to develop the kind of community I had before?  Will it be the same?

I don’t have the answers (though, as far as I know, people like us…) and I’m beginning to realize that I don’t need the answers.  God is showing me how to appreciate this new season of community, to let it develop with no expectations.  He has already blown me away with what our community looks like.

No expectations looks like:

Here’s a basket full of notes and gift cards to welcome us to Coeur d’Alene and CBC.

A warm welcome extended by CBC members.

Oh, you’ve just arrived in town?  Come over for burgers!

We missed you at the church picnic.  Do you want to get coffee?

You like to hike? I’ll take you up Canfield Mountain on Saturday!

You need a couch? We have one that needs a home!

 And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together (as believers), as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.  {Hebrews 10:24-25, Amp}

Not only have Tim and I been adopted into a welcoming community during this new season, we now have an excellent example of how to extend community to others.