This is post 9 of 9 on Awakening to Authentic Community
Our family, all seven of us, recently loaded up into our Suburban and headed west to California for some beach time and surfing. This is becoming a wonderful annual event for us. This year we invited a few other families to join us on this great adventure. It was a great week of fellowship and fun. As I have reflected on our adventure, I have realized that it had several things to teach us about awakening to authentic community:
Shared Space: I don’t think I need to tell you that 7 people sharing the small confines of a Suburban packed out with luggage can be a little challenging. But it is also family-forming and critical that we make time and extended time to be together as a family. For us a family road- trip is a wonderful event to get some good time together. The tight confines force us to communicate and move toward one another in ways that we can avoid while home and in our regular routines. And this year we had the opportunity to also share space with other friends and the family-forming dynamics were expanded and enhanced. Now, this idea of shared space is essential today for the Church to recover. We cannot build community without experiencing shared space with one another in our families and with the larger church family. Are you moving toward sharing space with others or are you protecting your space?
Shared Direction: On our voyage out west we didn’t try to caravan together for that would be way too hectic. Each car had between 2 and 5 kids in each car. So, we agreed to set out at our own pace and rendezvous at the beach. Though we did not all join in a grand caravan we did all share a common destination – shared direction. It was an exciting event as we all eventually arrived at the beach and started to talk about the adventures ahead in the week. This is another key element to building authentic community – shared direction. Without sharing a common vision for where we are all headed it is impossible to build healthy community. This is not only true for a church family but also for each individual family. What is your shared direction? The Woodrow family mission statement – shared direction hangs on our refrigerator:
God chose us to be a family and has given each of us to the other and we are to give special priority to one another. Our family is part of something bigger, the family of God – Christ’s Church. We serve Jesus our King and live for His Kingdom to come.
Shared Experience: Now you might be saying, “ Where does surfing fit in to all of this?” Each day we all gathered at the beach and set up camp. The kids scattered all over the place while the adults tried to make some order to all of the beach gear. Now it was time to learn how to surf. Wet suits and boards were rented and away we went. It was a joy to watch each adult and child try to catch a wave and stand up. And I think, everyone pretty much did – there were a couple beach bums who just relaxed and read – but that’s ok. The point: shared experience = making memories = healthy relational heritage. It is impossible to build authentic community without the shared experience of worshiping together, praying together, serving together and going on mission together. And we cannot forget – having fun together!! Surfs up! See ya’ll in SoCal next year! Don’t forget those rash guards!
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