Community – A Reflection

Today was a day of travel, fellowship, and a good Presbytery meeting. One of the things that I love about our denomination (PC(USA)) is our connectional nature. I have experienced it locally, at the Presbytery and Synod level, and at General Assembly. We may not always agree but agreeing to disagree and still working together is what Sacred Community is supposed to be all about.

I’m not saying that we are perfect. We aren’t by any stretch of the imagination. However, when we join together and follow Christ as a community, I see great hope and promise.

Even though Thomas Merton wasn’t a Presbyterian, his words speak to so many within the denomination. Of course he has also been a tremendous influence in my own Spiritual Journey. In his book, No Man Is an Island Merton said the following:

We do not exist for ourselves alone, and it is only when we are fully convinced of this fact that we begin to love ourselves properly and thus also love others.

What is the key to this cooperation and our working together? Love is the key. This is something to ponder in these divisive times. This is the way to change our lives and communities.