Community

It's always better in a group.

cleaning . . . doing dishes . . . yard work . . . paper work . . . conversations . . . lunch . . .

It's nice to have a partner, or two, or three.

As cleaning becomes more joyful when shared, so do our experiences become less daunting, less weighty, when we can share them with others

                      sorrows . . . grief . . . questions . . . musings . . . difficult journeys . . . and the like.
     
          and shared joys become
                                              sweeter
                                                        richer
                                                              delicious!


Today was Spring Cleaning Day at church --
Two years ago I remember just our family slaving away in the nursery together.  I think we missed lunch.  Then we worked in the basement by ourselves and when we came upstairs, all the people were gone and all the lights were turned off.  It was a lonely feeling.

This year, cleaning the nursery (while not a totally fun thing to do) was made more bearable . . . joyful, even . . . because of the community.  One of my high school seniors and I disinfected toys while my three kids ran in and out with a troop of five other boys.  Others came in to ask questions or see how we were doing.  At lunchtime, the message was sent out to everyone -- and we waited to pray as a big group.  I sat with two people I'm just beginning to know -- and community was deepened, growing, blossoming.  It was a fabulous clean-up day.


We were made for community.

As I learned at the 2003 ELCA National Youth Gathering in Atlanta, Georgia:

I am because we are.

          We are because Christ is.

                   Ubuntu!


Now go get your mop and let's get to work.