I have been having this conversation for years - years - with four of our closest friends. I too do not believe this is something just for the far side of heaven. I've tasted it before, and I've studied enough of church history to know it exists on this side. Looking forward to listening in the new year.
yes! same here. friends who have the same thoughts and agree believe it only possible living geographically VERY close (same neighborhood close) to people with the same or similar desires.
parker palmer (i think????) would call this a confessional community???
You bring up a point I’m still chewing on: whether physical proximity is necessary. Or is that simply one factor? I tend to think about the communal life as the quality of one’s relationships, and I’ve known/been known by people who do not live close but who I know I could call at a given moment.
The word I keep going back to when I try to define a communal way of being is “shared.” How much do we allow ourselves and our lives to overlap? And proximity is a piece of that, but I tend to think it’s not the whole.
Yes! yes yes yes. I love your definition of community. I think that's so beautiful and I actually really relate.
I've come to live into this non-geographical community a lot in the past 3 years moving to a new city that still doesn't intuitively feel like the place for me...
I've lovingly called the community of people I have that don't live close to me -but are surely my "community" - my "community of hearts"... they live "in my heart"
I think i bring up the geographical point for a few reasons...
one, mainly just because I long for it and know many people who seem to as well.. Maybe there's something primal about being physically close to people you love...and I've also known people willing to make great sacrifices and move their families to be closer to the people that are important to them and thrive there. This is so anecdotal but I can relate!
Two, for purely practical reasons...seems like the mothers with children I know come to life where things, especially their support system and friends are walkable and car seats aren't a factor 😂 odd and maybe a bit pedestrian (forgive the pun) but true!
you're clearly onto something! Thanks for letting me and my unpolished and very subjective thoughts join in on the conversation!
I think our needs as a human as it relates to communion and connection are so layered and complex and personal, but it will be really interesting to see how your conversations continue to develop!
I am with you! "Community" isn't what we're truly longing for if it's a good to be sampled or a state we visit. It has to be intertwined. Can't wait to listen!!
So true are your words! What you are describing happens the reason we catch glimpses of it sparingly is we let the old sinful nature slip back in and up goes the walls and the little hidden judgements then our feelings get in the way due to our vulnerability that we risked. So we move on only to keep longing for it again. The early church in Acts had it because the kept Jesus the center and really looked at the needs of others before their own I believe harmony and one accord was used to describe it! They didn’t lose sight of what their purpose was to Worship Him!
Here for it! Yes to all of these things.
So excited for the podcast!
Thanks friend!
I have been having this conversation for years - years - with four of our closest friends. I too do not believe this is something just for the far side of heaven. I've tasted it before, and I've studied enough of church history to know it exists on this side. Looking forward to listening in the new year.
Oooo I love that you’ve been parsing this out with friends. Feel free to share any thoughts or insights you’ve gained.
I’ll gather my thoughts and return!
yes! same here. friends who have the same thoughts and agree believe it only possible living geographically VERY close (same neighborhood close) to people with the same or similar desires.
parker palmer (i think????) would call this a confessional community???
loving this conversation!
You bring up a point I’m still chewing on: whether physical proximity is necessary. Or is that simply one factor? I tend to think about the communal life as the quality of one’s relationships, and I’ve known/been known by people who do not live close but who I know I could call at a given moment.
The word I keep going back to when I try to define a communal way of being is “shared.” How much do we allow ourselves and our lives to overlap? And proximity is a piece of that, but I tend to think it’s not the whole.
What do you think?
Yes! yes yes yes. I love your definition of community. I think that's so beautiful and I actually really relate.
I've come to live into this non-geographical community a lot in the past 3 years moving to a new city that still doesn't intuitively feel like the place for me...
I've lovingly called the community of people I have that don't live close to me -but are surely my "community" - my "community of hearts"... they live "in my heart"
I think i bring up the geographical point for a few reasons...
one, mainly just because I long for it and know many people who seem to as well.. Maybe there's something primal about being physically close to people you love...and I've also known people willing to make great sacrifices and move their families to be closer to the people that are important to them and thrive there. This is so anecdotal but I can relate!
Two, for purely practical reasons...seems like the mothers with children I know come to life where things, especially their support system and friends are walkable and car seats aren't a factor 😂 odd and maybe a bit pedestrian (forgive the pun) but true!
you're clearly onto something! Thanks for letting me and my unpolished and very subjective thoughts join in on the conversation!
I think our needs as a human as it relates to communion and connection are so layered and complex and personal, but it will be really interesting to see how your conversations continue to develop!
I'm looking forward to this, Sarah!
I am with you! "Community" isn't what we're truly longing for if it's a good to be sampled or a state we visit. It has to be intertwined. Can't wait to listen!!
There’s something deeper and sturdier to the word “communion” for me... it’s sometimes hard to articulate.
love this. looking forward to tuning in.
Yay! So glad, Brooke
So true are your words! What you are describing happens the reason we catch glimpses of it sparingly is we let the old sinful nature slip back in and up goes the walls and the little hidden judgements then our feelings get in the way due to our vulnerability that we risked. So we move on only to keep longing for it again. The early church in Acts had it because the kept Jesus the center and really looked at the needs of others before their own I believe harmony and one accord was used to describe it! They didn’t lose sight of what their purpose was to Worship Him!
I had to read this twice. These words landing on my soul in a way that felt like home. Thank you.
Congrats, Sarah! I look forward to listening in. (I’ve subscribed through Overcast.)
Congrats for voyaging into the the land of Podcasts! Excited for this exploration of the communal life. Just subscribed to the podcast.