The value of community & rest

They say you can know a person by who they eat their meals with. And that it takes a village to raise a child. Yet, in the hustle and bustle of the community, we hear about sabbath and mindfulness. Even in community, there is immeasurable worth in rest.

The worth of community is something that has been consistently on my mind over the past few weeks.

Accountability means having people in your life who remind you why you started, who believe in you, and who help you to grow. This means that we have people who speak into our lives, and remind us not only of who we are, but also who we were meant to be. We all need people to help us get through life - and to carry our visions when our legs feel weak. Sometimes these people will even tell you when you are doing (too little or) too much. ‘The world needs what you got’ – and we need people to help us see the good in ourselves.

We can make a difference where we are. In a lecture on Public Theology, Dr. Dion Forster shared about a church that marked a 5km radius around their spot on the map of their town and vowed to take responsibility for this area. I think we are placed where we are for a reason- but its not the reason we think. We always hear that our communities shape us, and that we are formed by the people around us. But I think it is actually our responsibility to look after our communities too. 

I believe we should bring light and life to the people that our paths cross with on a regular basis. We can only make a difference in our communities by weaving ourselves into its threads. Yet a fine balance must be found between being there for people, doing with life people and burning out because of the constant scrambling from one thing to the next. Perfect rest is found in the shadow of our Almighty God, since he knows best exactly what we need and when we need it.

You need community, people and friends to lead you to see what it worth your time and energy, but it will also show you when to take a step back and breathe. In a sermon about the “rhythms in life” my friend, Angelique shared the following: When we listen to someone playing on a drum set, the rhythm is created by the pauses between the sounds. If it was one long-lasting sound, it would be noise. It is the silence that makes the difference. In the silence, a pattern is formed that we can sway to. 

After this I began to notice (and for the first time be thankful for) the pauses between God’s sentences to me. I also realized again that “Rest isn’t a nice thing to do, it’s a must thing to do.” Start saying no to things. Put your phone down after work. Make a cup of tea/coffee, and just sit down and drink it. Not while you read, or while you talk to someone. The silences in between the busyness of life can make an enormous difference in how we feel and experience life around us. Col 3:15 “Let the PEACE that comes from Christ rule your hearts.”

These silences will also keep your cup full, and (even in the most supportive community) you cannot pour from an empty cup. In this sense, looking after yourself IS a social responsibility, since it enables you to love others well. I am realizing again the worth of two things that are often overlooked in our busy lives: the worth of people & the worth of silence.

I would like to conclude this post with a challenge:

Remind someone of their strengths, gifts, and who you see when you look at them. They just might need it more than you think. 

(Originally written as part of a newsletter in February 2019)