And Joe was dead on. In fact, Joe surfaced a subject that goes deep to the core, something we all deal with every single day: The value of being known
A small piece of everyone seeks adventure, even if the desire is gently tucked away in a drawer and never sees the light of day. Like an unopened Christmas present in the attic.
But despite the novelty and joy of adventure, we forget a piece of the puzzle that is often left out. We forget about the search for friends, the search for community, and how long it takes to get settled somewhere.
For being known, I mean truly known, is beautiful. The ability to share, to open one's heartstrings, to communicate the realities of life's happenings is essential to human life.
God even tells us, paints the picture clear when He places Eve in the Garden with Adam. "Man is not meant to be alone"
I moved down to Greenville, South Carolina this summer, with high hopes, expectations, and dreams after the most incredible summer before in Boise, Idaho. I had this perfect picture of finding people with the same mindset as me, who could really live and do life with me.
But it didn't happen the way I planned it.
I had to go into overdrive to find community. I sought community in every place I could. But I still found myself at a sandwich shop one Saturday, alone and surrounded by the noises of people who had community. I listened to families, friends, and others laughing and sharing stories, while I was alone with my thoughts, desperately seeking community.
And my soul longed for the same. Longed for long conversations on porches and the chance to share my heart. I wanted to spend time with people who knew me. To be known, to be loved, to be cared for, these were the desires of my heart.
I got to fly home for the 4th of July to my ranch, surrounded by people who cared for me and understood the deep inter workings of my soul; it was so refreshing to have real conversations with people. Throw the small talk and dump it out on the street. Souls need to be filled, heard, and understood.
All these thoughts reminded me of how much I appreciated home. The old "Welcome to the Ranch sign," a creaky pull out chair, the sounds of my family laughing to some George Costanza line, a dog who can sit with you for hours on end without word meant so much. Everything else in life seems to become less important when you are spending time with people you love.
So what about a home draws people in close? All of the things above by themselves are worthless, yet so appreciated when put together.
I have this picture of Jesus standing at the gate of heaven, with a smile and a cold glass of lemonade welcoming me in. He draws me in and says, "You know Matt, I've been waiting for you a while. But you came at the perfect time, the time I specifically called you home.
For we are all strangers to this earth, we just happen to inhabit it and make the best of it. As a Christian, our true home will be in heaven, the place that we will feel the most known.
But while we wait for that time, what do we do?
If we are lonely or seeking to be known, press on. It might just take one more interaction. Give it to the Lord, that's all you can do.
On the other side, I challenge you to be that person that invites the new guy to lunch, stops a stranger in the park to ask how their day is going ask them to tell you about themselves, buy that one girl in line her coffee and ask what her name is.
You never know the impact a simple gesture can do. I experienced this power of a small gesture in the form of a scoop of ice cream.
If you are ever driving through the town of Greenville, South Carolina, there is a home that shines a light that beacons 5 families to the back porch. Every Sunday they meet for ice cream, talk about life, what's going on, share hilarious stories, and pray together. They simply love others well; they made a stranger like myself feel valued and known. And these nights were magical, in fact, they were my favourite days of the summer. I am deeply indebted to them for an act that seemed so simple, yet carried great magnitude.
These families live out Matthew 25:35 every Sunday. They took a knucklehead stranger like myself, loved me, cared for me, and exemplified what Christian community is all about. I was humbled to see such a beautiful picture of community like this, all through conversations and laughter with ice cream in hand.
You may be in a place where you haven't found special community. In fact, you may have searched your whole life and not found community. The truck has been stuck in the mud for years, tires spinning, yet no progress.
Here's what scripture tells us:
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." - Psalm 139:13-16
Community or not, it's refreshing and a good reminder to remember that God made us, formed us specifically, values us, and cares for us deeply. In times of struggle, holding onto this truth is encouraging, especially when we are seeking and not finding others to surround ourselves with.
Oh and you never know, it may all start with a scoop of ice cream...
