Community

I share an important notable part of our story with a small piece of my heart hurting as friends that have become family(framily) have left our area this week to move further south. Hurting, but fitting none the less, as I want to share about the importance of the community throughout our circumstances of the aftermath of the car collision.

Community is defined many different ways in the dictionary, with many definitions referencing community as people gathered in a particular place. To me though, community is best defined as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals”. Certainly through our circumstances, through the crooked path of fear, hurt, trauma, and pain, our community of family and friends from the west coast, the place we were physically located, down to the east coast of Florida, came along side us, met us where we were at emotionally, and quickly became the hands and feet of Jesus.

As a people, as believers, we are called to relationships, to communities. We were not made to walk this life alone. There are times, just like in ours when we were physically unable to care for ourselves, in which we are to be served, but there are also times to serve. All the while, fulfilling the great commission and serving Jesus himself. We are all given gifts and talents in which we are called specifically from Jesus to use. In Matthew 25, He speaks of talents through a parable and the importance of using them. He goes on to explain that we will all account for our service unto others here on this earth. Jesus uses the example of serving those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, sick, even in prison. And my favorite part of this chapter is in verse 40 when Jesus says, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

We were overwhelmed with love and service almost instantly, even in the hospital, all the way out in California, many, many miles away from our own “community” in Florida. Community, the feeling, and service began with the lady who ran across the highway as all other cars passed us by to check on us, and ultimately brought us the greatest relief in knowing I was not bleeding internally when she was able to do what my husband physically couldn’t, and lift my shirt to assess my injuries. Community continued through the first responders that cut me out of that crushed car and carried me to the EMT that encouraged, comforted, and cared for me. It continued to rise up through the nurses, doctors, and surgeons that immediately began to use their God given gifts and talents to serve our family and ensure our physical well-being. Community certainly prevailed, especially that feeling of fellowship, of belonging, when Eric’s cousin (more like sister) who just “happened” (which I know ultimately was another God thing) to be the closest of his family to the hospital, immediately came with her husband to check on us, to keep cool towels on my head as I was sick and in distress, and eventually take, keep, and provide stability and comfort for our children after such a traumatic experience that left me in the hospital for days. A community, a people, all selflessly rising up to serve us in our time of need.

After the news of us being in the car collision spread, the texts, calls, flowers, and most importantly prayers, began to pour in from all over. Our pastor even called us and encouraged our hearts immensely as he prayed over us before I went back into surgery. While the days following were much of a blur, one thing is certain, family, friends, and the people around us did not stop praying, serving, and loving us where we were at. It wasn’t until we were on our last flight home to Florida, that I really understood community to be a feeling. It was on that flight that one of our neighbors just two doors down from our house (again, not by chance) passed our seats on the way to his. As he stopped and was somewhat taken back to see us the way the collision had left us looking, it was the look in his eyes that provided comfort. Comfort, love, and hope in knowing we were returning home and that we were again, not alone. We were among community. From the moment our car pulled in the driveway well after midnight, we were welcomed by people helping, flowers, and gifts throughout our house, and even meals on our doorstep that began to pour in. This was all just the beginning of the outpouring of love, support, and provision that we received in the weeks and even months to come.

I can’t accurately explain the feeling of the hope, of the belonging, and of the knowing that people cared. Paul in the Bible understood and stressed the importance of giving credit and thanks where it was due as in many of his letters, he referred to those to which he was grateful to. Just as Paul felt it notable, I too can’t share our story and all the God moments without recognizing this as part of it. I can’t continue on without first thanking God for surrounding us with such a supportive, giving community. We are blessed beyond measure with the very best friends, neighbors, colleagues, church, small group, and family we could ever ask for, and I don’t believe it is by chance that out of all the people in the world, these are our people. I can’t thank Him enough for providing all the relationships and resources during our time in need. And YOU, all of you again from the west coast, to the south end of the east right here in our very own neighborhood in the panhandle, even many in the middle from the great state of Tennessee, I can’t thank you enough. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough. Our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude that will last a lifetime for all that you have done for us.

Community is not only a place, but it’s a people, it’s a feeling of belonging, a feeling that brings us together. Community, service, and love is what we are all called to and ultimately, what we will have to answer for as we stand before God one day. I encourage you all to rise up and be the hands and feet of Jesus to others, to those who are sick and afraid like we were, for those who are hurting, those who are hungry, maybe even strangers in a new place like my friends are this week down in south Florida. Do as Christians, what we have been called to do, and in serving others, serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I personally know the impact that my community has had on me, it’s one full of grace, understanding, love, and service, ultimately evoking a feeling of belonging and of hope within my heart, a feeling I wouldn’t want to ever reverse.