The other night I was taking my youngest for a marathon length stroller ride. As we walked, I glanced up and noticed a small collection of bird’s perched on an electrical wire. Why they do this, I have no idea. How they don’t get shocked surprises me as well. However, this glimpse of nature gave me something to think about as we walked along.
Ask those that are closest to me and they will tell you that I am passionate about small groups. Not just small groups, but community. You don’t need to go to a church to have community. It could be your neighborhood, a club you’re a member of, or even a team you’re on. Regardless, we are all “wired” (no pun intended) in such a way that we long to be with other people. We don’t need to be the center of attention, but we do need to be connected. I don’t know the science behind what makes these birds do the wire act, but my guess is that it has something to do with community. They long to be together and connected, even if it is a high voltage wire.
I had lunch Friday with a brother that has launched an incredibly successful church plant. Why is it successful? With God’s blessing, he has offered a place for people to belong. Later that evening, my wife and I attended a conference with several other couples. As we sat at the table and shared together, I was again reminded of the birds on a wire. This morning, a member of our small group informed me of a tough circumstance in his life. Why? Because he knew that there were others in our group that would come along side him to pray, to support and to share with his family.
Romans 12:15 says “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn”. We all need somewhere to be ourselves, to be abnormal, but most of all, to just be. We need someone to be there with us when the test results come back negative, and more importantly, be there for us when they come back positive. God designed and built us for the purpose of sharing this life together. So I ask, where is your community? Where is the wire in your life when you need some time with other people? Where do you go when you need to rejoice and when you need to mourn?
I cannot thank the “birds” in my life enough for sharing this highly electrical ride with me. Together we have rejoiced, mourned and everything in between. There are times when some have had to move on, but others have come to fill the space that was left on the wire. So next time you see the wire, remember community and take a moment to be thankful for the people in your life that share it with you.
