Community
Years ago I saw a throw pillow at some shop that said “Miracles... I don’t just believe in them, I rely on them.” At that time we were going through a great trauma within the family and I found myself laughing and crying upon reading the truth in that pillow. I shared it with my sister but she was too close to the trauma to be able to do any laughing. Yet, we have each quoted that pillow many times over the years since.
I think I could create a new pillow and have it say “Community... I don’t just believe in it, I rely on it.” Actually, community so often goes hand in hand with miracles... I don’t really see how you can separate them. When I think of community miracles my mind instantly brings up the
week before Jackson and Brianna’s wedding. When Marvin and I were sitting in a hospital wondering if the end of the day would bring us good news and the opportunity to go home and attend our son’s wedding, or if we would end the day in St. Louis and start a new journey (that we weren’t real keen on). When we got the good news of successful surgery and knew we could go home, we then wondered how on earth we would prepare for 350 guests just a few short days later. And then we opened our front door and found a beautiful community of people standing there ready to help. I remember feeling like I was part of a hallmark movie, especially those gushy closing scenes where people show up. What a blessing to be on the receiving end of that community of love and presence and help.
I can think further back to when Daddy had his colon cancer surgery in July 1987. When my rattletrap car wasn’t fit to make the drive to Nevada yet the call had come that I had better get there fast... Daddy might not leave that hospital. I was 19 and didn’t know what to do. But I drove that car to Ray Neely’s shop and just walked in and said, “I have to get to my Daddy and I know my car won’t get me there.” He took one look at me and said, “I’ll make sure you get to your Daddy.” And he did. I still don’t know what kind of voodoo magic he performed on that car, but it got me safely to Nevada (and my parents side) even through stop and go traffic on Hwy. 54/Osage Beach (back in the old days of two lane road and big crowds/July 4 weekend). I don’t think he ever sent a bill for that work, either.
As I type this I am thinking of more and more examples of the beautiful love of community that I or my family have experienced through the years. Too many to mention and some that aren’t my story to tell... but I have seen this at work many, many times.
I have also been on the other side of community. I have been blessed to be able to ‘show up’ for others at times and offer support and love. That’s the thing about community... it is a circle... it is reciprocal. If you are part of a true community you will have the opportunity to both give and receive. That is how it works best.
Last week I participated in helping someone learn more about that power of community, of love. Of being connected in good times and in bad. I shared some of what I just wrote above in an effort to illustrate this great power. And I shared the truest part of community that works - that it is the body of Christ working together. That it is God’s way of loving us - each through one another.
As often happens, I was then given an opportunity for that teaching lesson to be seen in a more vivid way. :) Monday happened. Marvin was preparing for surgery on Tuesday morning. Daddy fell. Mama and I ended up in the ER with Daddy as we tried to find answers, and got more questions. Then on Tuesday we had Daddy on the 4th floor of the hospital and Marvin on the 1st floor. For quite a few hours we were all quite busy. And our community showed up. Again.
We received many texts, calls, notes of love and encouragement, and offers of help. We asked for and received your prayers (and we felt them. Thank you and please continue.) We are so appreciative of your love and support and we truly thank God for each and every one of you. What a blessing to be a part of community - of being the hands and feet of Christ - both in the giving and the receiving. We are just so thankful.
