It all started with a not-so-simple question: “What could community look like if we thought in terms of decades-long relationships.” My son knew of a sociology professor at his college that had reoriented his life around this concept. He and his family had moved to within walking distance of the college and sold their second car. The idea was that instead of being spread thin in relationships through a bunch of different social settings, they would spend the vast majority of their time getting to know the people within a two block radius of their house in a much deeper and committed way.
I was fascinated by this social experiment - it came at a time in my life when I knew more people than I ever had, but I was starved for meaningful relationships. I latched onto this idea and our family started to shift things around in our own attempt to live more intentionally through the people God was placing in our lives.
If we want a garden
We're gonna have to sow the seed
Plant a little happiness
Let the roots run deep
If it's love that we give
Then it's love that we reap
If we want a garden
We're gonna have to sow the seed
The Kingdom of Heaven started to look a lot more like a table than anything else. Or the breakfast bar at the restaurant that I met my buddy at weekly. Or around bonfires in our backyard where really difficult, but beautiful conversations were happening. And this idea that we are committed to people for a lifetime - through all of our hangups and difficult seasons, actually freed us up to love more. There is something powerful about commitment like that on the front end - letting go of excuses to move on from people.
The door is always open
Your picture's on my wall
Everyone's a little broken
And everyone belongs
Yeah, everyone belongs
We are still stumbling forward as we attempt to figure this out, but I am so grateful that I have relationships in my life that cut right through the pleasantries and get straight to the good stuff. I am starting to understand more about how God “knits our hearts together” like he did for David and Jonathan. It’s always difficult, especially in light of raising families and buildings lives, to carve out the time for deep relationships. But during this Lenton season, may we be reminded of our need for each other - and that we were designed for meaningful community.
I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we're young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done
Links
Lyrics
You can hold my hand
When you need to let go
I can be your mountain
When you're feeling valley-low
I can be your streetlight
Showing you the way home
If you can hold my hand
When you need to let go
I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we're young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done
If we want a garden
We're gonna have to sow the seed
Plant a little happiness
Let the roots run deep
If it's love that we give
Then it's love that we reap
If we want a garden
We're gonna have to sow the seed
Yeah, I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we're young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done
The door is always open
Your picture's on my wall
Everyone's a little broken
And everyone belongs
Yeah, everyone belongs
I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we're young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done
And bring us back together when the day is done
This idea of focusing on long term friendships makes a lot of sense.