Caribou Community

So, I'm sitting in Caribou Coffee waiting to start a meeting, and none of the other guys are here yet.  For those of you who hate big chain stores, sorry, I didn't choose the place!  I've never been to this particular place, and it's very nice.  I remember coming here when it was a Burger King a long time ago. . .

I'm sitting here, kinda people watching, and I notice that in a room full of people, some are completely isolated, and some are completely engrossed in what I would call authentic community.  There are the people obsessed with their computers (apparently I'm part of that at the moment!), and there are friends talking over coffee and breakfast food.  Of course, there is also that annoying lady who talks way too loud and everyone wishes would leave!  There are nice comfortable chairs, and then there are the wooden chairs around too small tables.  It has a very earthy feel, and it makes me think of a family on vacation in a lodge in the Colorado Rockies.

I can't help but think this is like our families, and even like our simple church communities filled with different personalities, some loud some quiet, some social and some private.  I'm pretty sure I'm the one who talks too much (and sometimes too loudly).  In the end, though, we fit together.  We work.  We live in a beautiful blend of mess and differences and it feels like community.  I sure hope you have a community to be part of.  If you don't, feel free to check out this website, it's part of a group of simple churches that I am part of.  It feels so great to be part of something that matters, and I pray that you have that too.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

We got a decent snow storm last night, maybe 4-6", so there was a decent amount of snow last night.  I don't usually wake up too early, so by the time I got up I noticed that my neighbor had already cleaned the front of my driveway where the snowplow leaves the really thick, heavy stuff.  I was overjoyed, and went outside to get started on the rest of my drive and sidewalk, and maybe some of the neighbors sidewalks.

The neighbor who was already working came over, and I just wanted to thank him, but he asked for help.  He had gotten a piece of wood stuck in his snowblower and I had tools to cut it out.  It was just neighbors helping neighbors, and it was beautiful.  

I think to how many times I just ignore a neighbor so I can get inside quickly.  It's amazing how little it takes to really care about people.  I wonder what our communities would look like if we just decided to care for others just a part of the time?

Well, my neighbor and I ended up cleaning the sidewalk of all 6 houses surrounding mine, and we cleaned 4 of the driveways.  We didn't want money or recognition (even though I'm talking about it here, shh don't tell anyone!), we just wanted to care about our community and our neighbors.  I hope you find a way to do that today, no matter how small it may be.