community

Yeah, the TV show is pretty good.

But more than that, I ♥ my family group.

The question came up in Bible study today (today being Tuesday) - Is it true that you have to know someone in order to love someone?

And you know what? Not necessarily. I don't know all my members' dreams, their fears, their pasts, their present struggles all that well quite yet, and still, I love them. I've loved them since before day 1. And maybe as I do get to know them, it might (ironically) be harder to love them at first, because of my own insecurities or prejudices or preferences. But love prevails - it covers over a multitude of sins, it breaks through barriers, it encourages and envelops. I think it's more true that as we love someone - not by our own capabilities but through God's infinite, abounding love - we want to know more.

So, openness is what we need. The ability to be crazy and emotional and raw and vulnerable, coupled with an environment that allows for healing and correcting and sympathizing and learning and laughing and being silly and singing "Don't Stop Believing" and "My Life Would Suck Without You" - that is the community I hope for this year :)