We started our community groups back up last night. It felt great to have people in our home sharing a meal & good conversation once again. We're co-leading a group with a friend, which will help share some of the demand having/leading a community group can be - both in preparing to lead the conversation surrounding the book we're doing ("Making Room for Life - Trading Chaotic Lifestyles for Connected Relationships" by Randy Frazee) and in getting the house ready for guests each week.

Honestly, if I could I would probably resign myself & the family to coming to a weekly worship service on an alternate night (Thursday, Saturday, etc.) and then plug in through a community group. I know not everyone else is comfortable with that kind of schedule, but for me it would work well. The value of connecting with a smaller group of other Christians, sharing meals & lives with one another, diving into God's Word at a deeper level, and strengthening relationships outweighs the difficulties, challenges, and uncomfortableness at times that come alongside those benefits.

Community isn't easy.

Connecting with other God-followers at the level that Christ calls us to connect is something that has to be worked at/out. It's the same struggle (albeit at a lighter level) that you face in marriage. The blessed relationship Andrea & I share doesn't come easy all the time. It is something that has grown through shared hardships as much as through shared joys (if not more).

If you are not connecting beyond a surface level with other people who are on the same spiritual journey as you - take a risk, step out & plug in. Allow God to work in you through others in a way that, I believe, will never happen flying solo.