Building Community

I’ve been thinking a lot about community. Both Joe and I are fortunate to have such a great community of friends and family. I have friends that I’ve know most of my life and while I may not see them often but when we finally get together it’s as if no time has passed at all. Friends that will laugh with me, cry with me, and hold my hand through the hardest times.

This election season I’ve seen too many people lose relationships over differing political opinions. Personal attacks on each other because one person likes a different candidate. Or huge disagreements because we have different policy ideas. It’s heartbreaking to see people throw away beautiful and challenging friendships because of our differences.

Yes, there are times when people are toxic and it’s best to remove toxicity from our lives but we can’t push people away just because they don’t agree with us.

We were designed for community and we were also designed very different from each other. If relationship and community were meant to be easy, we’d all be exactly the same. But we aren’t, therefore relationships are hard. Sometimes we have to compromise and lay down something to build up others and build community. Otherwise we’ll become isolated and lonely. That’s not to saw we compromise who we are or what we believe but instead we choose to fight battles that bring peace rather than dissension.

Community is good. It’s not always easy, but it’s good. Some of the best moments in life are centered around doing life with one other. Sitting around the dinner table with good friends, sharing our lives and building relationship.