A day with others

Community is the act of bringing together our diversity into a common purpose where each one works to his or her best ability to promote the well being of all who make up our community. So then, community is made up of more than one person and therefore requires certain sacrifices -- such is a day with others.

In addition, community "works toward a common end". From morning to noontime and afternoon to evening, work must be done. I remember spending time at Koinonia a long time ago. A group of us spent our spring break from college, visiting Koinonia. I remember that the morning began with prayer and praise -- looking forward to the new day, a new beginning. Each individual worshiped in their own way the new day, but that was just the beginning. Work assignments were given out and some of us worked in the kitchen preparing meals for the community, some of us worked in the chocolate factory making candy to be sold, some of us worked in the gardens and still others of us worked in the Pecan Groves, picking up pecans, trimming the dead branches and gathering the produce in such a way that the pecans would find their way into the chocolate.

The familiar hymn, "Work for the Night is Coming" reminds us of the importance of work each and every day. Here is the final verse of this familiar and beloved hymn:

Work, for the night is coming,
Under the sunset skies;
While their bright tints are glowing,
Work, for daylight flies.
Work till the last beam fadeth,
Fadeth to shine no more;
Work, while the night is darkening,
When man’s work is o’er.

The day's beginning and endings at the Koinonia Community reminds me of the sacred rhythm of daily living. There doesn't seem to be much glamor in the daily grind of work, but God created us to work and challenges us to find the rhythm of life in the sacred act of work. For most of us working is not done alone. O yes, there are times when we have to cut the grass, trim the bushes, wash the dishes, type a letter or any other number of jobs that really only one person can do, but even if we are the only ones doing it, we are not doing this for ourselves, we are doing it for others. We cut the grass, so bugs and other undesirable critters might not become too comfortable with our yard. We wash the dishes so that the dishes can be used again to feed our family. Letters are written for a purpose -- most likely to provide information to make our life and the lives of others more gratifying and pleasing. In the end, even when we find ourselves working alone, we do so believing that we are making the world a better place not just for us, but for all who work and pray together. Work is sacred and a part of our day with others.

Bonhoeffer suggests that the work of the world can be done only where a person forgets himself, where he loses himself in a cause, in reality, the task of work. Paul writes, "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Colossians 3:17) Whether working or praying, whether eating or fellowshiping, we are people that need a reason to work, a reason to pray, a reason to be with one another. This is community -- a day with others. So, I babble on, thinking about each day, each day that invites me into fellowship, calls me into community and to do all to the glory of God. This is the journey and the promise of life together.