Prodigal Medic....

Yesterday, I heard a pastor make this challenge: “Is it really that we are about community or affinity?”

I think that this night is how it is supposed to be.

My favorite band was playing a show at my favorite pub in Santa Rosa tonight. I got to drive up there with two of my best friends. We talked about life and faith and things of significance the whole time. We shared a great meal together, and during this time, enjoyed each other’s company with stories of life and full of laughter.

As we left dinner, the three of us were happy and carefree, and arriving at the pub to see more of my friends was great. There was such genuine affection. I’ve always thought that if my good friends were ever all stranded on an island together, we would have an incredible time. People who had never met before were laughing and having a good time, people were watching out for each other, and there was so much goofiness and dancing. Arms around each other, sharing the moment, each of us finding our own connection with something bigger than ourselves, actually singing our own songs to God in the middle of this dance floor. Even towards the end of the night when someone was caught stealing from our friends, people were there to stand up for him, to protect and look out for him.

I took a break for a small bit last night and sat with my drink. I had just had a conversation with a woman I’d just met about her life and things she was going through. I heard from my friends that they’d had similar experiences that night as well.

All this really made me think about Rick’s statement: Am I settling for community or affinity? I think I’m pretty thankful and certain that I have an amazing community. I am thankful for these people more than I could express. This is so close to the feeling of family. And with all the mess and the fallen humanity that we each express, we found belonging and companionship. This was not some homogenous group, as there were all sorts of backgrounds and life experiences there. But it was, as I said, a great community.

The words to one of the songs really wrap up my thoughts on the night:

Its only whispers that keep our hearts alive
And tonight I wish that you and I could drive
Then race with the satellites as they streak across the sky
And when you’re near, I’m light as air and I believe that I can fly

In this moment,
Its beautiful ‘cause you’re right here
In this moment,
Its like I’m drifting across the sky
And there’s no gravity that can possibly hold us
And leave me weightless
- Five AM

Thank you to all those who make up my community and my family, those that I see frequently, as well as those that I wish I was closer to. Those moments, and these people, are what make my life so rich.

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Although he is avowed as an atheist as Bill Maher, Penn has always been much more intelligent and thoughtful in his position. In fact, after watching this video, I'm amazed and impressed even more. Definitely worth the time and most certainly thought-provoking. 

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A few random thoughts…

I went to a church today, alone and new, which for me, are both things that I am used to. I actually relish the thought of going somewhere that I am not known, being an anonymous face in the crowd. For those that do have a regular community of faith though, let me remind you of something important. It is so important to make new people feel welcome. Candles, dark rooms, worship leaders who are so hip that they cant see their toes… these things do not equal “community,” “authenticity” or any of the other buzz words that seem to proliferate so many church mission statements. The singular aspect of a community of believers that actually transforms these words to the reality of the vision is this: hospitality. Without the simplicity of a smile, a sincere hello, these other words fall empty. Let’s not forget that Jesus was most comfortable in the margins, and really, margins exist not only outside of the church, but also within, when we form cliques, when we are more concerned about our friends and we forget that there are new people there, searching to fit in and become a part of the community.

My next thought is simple:

I love reading people’s blogs. So many of the ones that I read are friends of mine, but others are people that I know within two degree’s of separation. This keeps me from wasting my whole day reading. This week though, I’ve found great writing from Trent, Katie, Kevin, Nakepastor and Kristin... some friends, some I've not met in person. But all worth reading. Thanks to those that make me think, pause and process...

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