But I live in a share your life, your backyard, your lawn mower, your couch, and your dinner type of community. It's a joy and sometimes a struggle. When you let people in your life and share so much with them you really began to feel a connection, a family bond. So when there's mistakes and struggles and hard times it can be the hardest places to live. It's easier to turn a blind eye to peoples stuff when they don't live with you. But then you also don't get to really see who they are. What makes them special. You don't get to be encouraged when blessings are shared.
I can't imagine living differently. I'm very blessed to live in such a way that causes me to really care for others, and to dig deeper then the "how are you, just fine" stuff. It forces me to work on my junk too. If I don't then it's just magnified in the daily interactions with my neighbors.
My children really benefit living this way they have no shortage of love. They have so much "family" that is always looking out for them and they get so much encouragement and gentle correction from the Community. The kids have learned to love despite appearance, age, residence, and lifestyle. They have seen heartache and joy, and have so much compassion for people and genuine concern for the lost and broken. We don't shield them from the hardships we help them walk through it so they can see how much God loves and cares for us. They are learning to share the heavy yoke, and the blessings.
I hope that I will be privileged to live In Community for a very long time.
"All the believers were together and had everything in common... They gave to anyone who had need... They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts," Acts 1:44-46
