everybody everybody

God is teaching me a lot about community this year.

I have two sisters, 5 stepsibs (+2 ex steps), 3 sets of grandparents, 20 aunts and uncles, ~12 great-aunts and uncles... and i don't know... 25 cousins? Maybe more counting Second cousins and my cousins children...

So I have a lot of family. I think the thing about family is... we see each other, love each other, care for each other out of a necessity- even though I love all of them, and some I am quite close to, the idea of being together begins with that animal survival instinct- kinship and all that...

Then there is life group. Ministry team.. missions team... the senior class...

Cohesion and love for each other is not organic. It's awkward...

But in times of crisis and struggle, the church community is strong only because the love they have for each other is built on that greater love God has for us.
In times of joy and celebration, who else do we turn to but those people who have seen us grow and mature on a level beyond blood ties and legal/official relationships?

I think I am learning more and more the joy of being in community with my sisters and brothers in Christ. It seems so trite...

but I guess it's something I am only learning to value as it is coming to an end (in some ways). And I think I've abandoned community sometimes in exchange for self-control and isolation...

It's funny how witnessing the power of those relationships is really what I need to bring me out of that alienation.

anyway.... supposed to be studying...