Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:22 pm

Finding community should come naturally in one place
Take a moment and help me out, if you will. Here is my struggle.

When we were hiking down the Scottish trail on the Totternish Ridge, we spoke to and greeted all the other hikers we saw on the trail. I suppose that was because they evidently had the same interest as us and were sharing in the same experience of the mountain.

When we go to Knoxville for a UT football or basketball game, we say hello to the folks sitting around us when we get there and later when we score, we high five each other. If we win a really close one from a heated rival we are apt to hug each other, not even knowing the other person's name! I suppose that is because we pull for the same team and are seeking the same goal.

When we were at Crockett Park for the big 4th of July shindig recently, we danced with other folks on the floor, shared our food with folks around us and laughed, oohed and aaahed together as the fireworks display took place. I guess that was because we were all united by the celebration of something we held dear and consider very important in our lives, our freedom.

So here is my struggle. Why is it when many of us walk into the sanctuary on Sunday morning, we clam up, keep our eyes focused straight ahead and refuse to speak to, much less shake hands and actually converse with, the people around us? Most of them we recognize. But those we don't probably don't recognize us either. Why is it so difficult to be friendly in church?

After all, we have the same interest and we share the same experience, a relationship with God. We pull for the same team, Christ's team, and seek the same goal, God's kingdom on earth. We are united in the body of Christ where joy and peace abound; we consider his grace most dear and claim our faith to be the most important thing in our lives.

So, what is supposed to be the valid excuse for not acting toward fellow worshippers in the church the very way we act toward complete strangers outside the church? I believe there is none. Even extreme introverts need community and can learn extroverted skills. And it is into "community' that Christ has called us. Called individually into a personal relationship within and for Christ's community.

Are we are really a faithful people if we try and isolate ourselves in the body of believers?

Just another thought from the shallows...