Growing in Community...

So many times I find myself relying on God, and I think that you should know that it is totally not something I do by choice. Unfortunately this is one of the biggest struggles that I have and I realize more and more how much greater my life would be if I did just let it go. Very unsurprisingly I find that when I rely on myself I end up backed against a wall, it may have something to do with the fact that I am weak, helpless, broken and many other things we needn't delve into. I write all this with a really good point, I promise. About seven months ago I found myself in just this predicament. I needed to move and wasn't sure were I was going to move. God did his thing and I ended up meeting a man who had a vision for community living in a property that he has in Norristown, and he was willing to welcome me and Juliana into this budding community. I was so grateful to God in this moment for having provided for us-as he ALWAYS does. The community living thing I could have lived with or without it.

To be quite frank I thought that whole community living thing was trendy in the christian world and I just wasn't all about it. I thought ok, I will live here get to know some people, do some fun stuff but still go on about my life as planned. Little did I know what God had in store for me. I had never expected to make the connections and build the friendships that I am building. I have learned that even though it may be trendy to live in community its also hard work. But I have also learned that despite this it is still something that I really want to pursue on a deeper level. I want to learn more about my "homies"(an abreviation for housemate coined by Jim, one of my homies) and my neighbors. I want to learn more about Jesus and I want to learn more about myself.

As has been a resounding theme in my life, God had something far better planned for me than I could have ever done myself. God new that at first I would be uncomfortable and that I would contemplate moving out and even look for ways to make that happen. He also knew that I would come around to the idea that I would be an active participant in this whole building community thing. I have come to accept that maybe this is trendy but it could be because it is a really cool thing that helps people grow in unexpected ways. I am happy with where I am at right now in my community but I think something more powerful is that I am excited to stick it out and grow with it and am excited to see where we are in another seven months.