maybe sharing really is caring

Sometimes, life is like this picture.
You know there's something beautiful there, but it's really hard to see through the blur of the rain.

Recently, I have come to realize another aspect of community which should be held in great esteem:

Sharing. 

I mean sharing your experiences with people, sending a quick message or photo about something that happened that day, or having a brief conversation about an event. Spending some time to share about life and what's been happening. 

 There have been many days recently that I have had a much greater desire to just sleep in, watch a show, or sit doing nothing, than to get up and do the work set before me. It's lackadaisical and it's depressing. I have had opportunities to be with people in community and have turned them down. This isolation only makes things worse. I have come to realize in the last few days that I have gotten to this stage due to my own lack of intentionality with community. 

I do a lot of things with a lot of people.

All the time. 

But the difference is between intentional interaction and simply being around people. For instance, I spend nearly 6 hours each Thursday with 2 teachers and 14-18 preschoolers. That does not mean that I am building deep, lasting, uplifting, community with these individuals. I mainly make sure the students aren't hurting each other, and occasionally have a chat with one of the teachers. Similar to Wednesday evenings when I spend 3 hours with 20ish peers and our professor. We have tasks to accomplish during that time. We are not worrying about our friendships and developing our relationships with each other, that's the sort of thing that happens outside of class in the hours of lesson planning and studying. While in that class, we are concerned about learning and engaging with the materials in front of us then going home for dinner and to bed. 

With so many people around all the time, it is easy to think we are not isolated.

But, how intentional are you with the people around you?

Are you really allowing these people into your life?

Have you opened the door to relationship by sharing something with them?

I wasn't, and it had begun to take a tool. 

Over the last few days, I began to notice that I am more motivated to do something - even something on my own - when I know I will get to share that thing with someone I love and care for. 

Crazy, right? 

But isn't this what community is all about? 

Aren't we mean't to share and encourage each other? 

My friends, there is something so powerful about sharing our lives with people. Whether we are physically with them or not. Let's be a people who share our experiences and encourage each other to do the same.

This isn't sharing things on social media so that everyone can see it. 

This is connecting intentionally with an individual.

This is engaging in intentionally conversation with someone.

It's really as simple as picking one or two friends or family members who you would like to share your life with and connecting intentionally with them. 

As an additional side note, I would also encourage making at least one of these individuals someone who is not always closely involved in your daily life.

It is really true what Proverbs 25:25 says,

"Good news from a far away land is like cold water to the thirsty."

Whether that far away land is literal or hypothetical, hearing news, sharing joy - and sorrow - is a way to build great community and prevent the isolation where our enemy desires for us to dwell.