Moments of Truth

Tonight was an especially good sharing time.  Every Sunday evening we spend about 90 minutes listening to one another share about where we're at holistically, but especially emotionally and spiritually.  Our conversation is "framed by our relationship to God and others" as we outlined in our community covenant.

Maybe tonight was especially sweet because there had been some relational tensions in the community earlier during the week.  In any case, everyone was very present and connected this evening.  I personally felt ready to share from a space of pain that I'm dealing with in my life.  Somehow I knew the time was ripe in myself and in the group.  It is a true testament to the strength of our community that in this particular group I can expose a heaviness I carry with me everywhere but am not usually free to release.

Aside from myself, others shared about really powerful positive and negative things in their lives.  And yet we can still laugh and connect and embrace even when we find ourselves at very different places in our personal journeys.

As I am typing this, music is wafting up from downstairs.  A group of us was asked to play for an event this week and they're preparing their set list.  Emily is at the piano and Clay is on the violin and a beautiful hymn is providing the backdrop for my space of warm reflection as I share this with you.

Sometimes the ideal moment is in raucous laughter.  Sometimes it is in a genuine hug after an argument.  Sometimes it is a conversation that challenges our worldviews.  Sometimes is in quiet, calm spaces of enjoying one another's company.  Sometimes, as tonight, it is sharing the rawness and realness of joy and pain while hearing and being heard.  These are the moments that I live for, we live for, in community.  These are the moments that are the definition of community.