Community Configured by Fiona Holland
“A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals” – this is the definition of community and describes one of the main reasons I desired to become a Fellow this year. Being a part of this strong, Christ-centered, challenging, and loving group has been something I have found great joy in this past semester. God did not create us to be islands; we need one another to share in the beauty and pain, joy and sorrow, good times and hard times of this life. To be honest with others and invite them into sharing our triumphs and struggles is necessary for us to grow closer together. That requires vulnerability, which does not come naturally and is rather difficult for me; however, it is something I am working on pressing into even more this coming semester. Thankfully, it is not essential that I must have everything together and be perfect all the time - I can admit weaknesses and invite others into my journey of overcoming them with the Lord’s help. He never called me to be perfect, but instead He enables me to walk freely in His holiness and forms me to be holy as He is holy.
Learning to trust that Jesus fully knows and still fully loves you and I is a process, but when we allow others to join us in walking it out, it becomes more visible. When I think of God and the unfailing, unrelenting love He has for me, what Jesus did on the cross for me, and what He continues to do for me every day, whether I notice it or not, is astounding! He is so lovely and matchless; worthy and holy. The overflow from His embrace of all of me should spring forth toward those around me. “Without people to love and be loved by, I don’t imagine faith is very sustainable” (Wesley Hill). I believe this is true because of our need for community and how we bare Christ’s image inside of us. How can we live without Him pouring out His love onto others? It is such a supernatural thing!
As the next semester starts back, I pray that each of us will be more aware of God’s all-encompassing presence and not hold back. Let us be a people who are struck with abundant confidence in God and speak the truth in love to all. Lord, thank you for your glory and let us reflect it in every aspect of our lives.
“His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, and there is the hiding of His power” (Habakkuk 3:4).
