Camping (the real kind) is one of the greatest things we can do to really simplify our lives and ourselves. I went camping this weekend with some friends and what really took place was a chance to live as a group, as a community. We cooked our meals together, washed the dishes, talked about our lives, mentioned ideas, shared news, laughed together, teased each other, spent hours in the woods hiking, canoed as a team and for a moment just existed. Nothing else mattered but this moment in time. In all of this I caught a glimpse of something I had been longing for. I saw how the Body of Christ should function. A community life without reservation, judgments and assumptions. While roughing it for the weekend, we saw our flaws, our fears and our strengths. With no extra "noise" of life added in we were able to talk, listen and love. I desperately wish I had more opportunities like this in my life. The ability to walk alongside others through life is beautiful. We were made for this kind of community. God created us this way. Aside from His Son and Grace, true community may be one of the greatest gifts He gave us.
