A community based around Christ also includes Him

(c) Sarah Gibson 2015

     It's so funny to me the places we're willing to be transparent. Personally, it confuses me. So often the places expected to be difficult to be transparent, end up being the places I'm most honest and straightforward about myself with others. And so often, the places like my church or small groups- places that encourage transparency- end up being the very places I'm least transparent.

     But the more I think about it, as terrifying as it can be to put yourself in a place of vulnerability, its also completely necessary if we aim at growing even the slightest bit. Think about plants. If you built a wall separating a plant from sunlight it so desperately needs for growth, the chances of that plant blossoming to its full potential are slim to none. Sure, the plant may grow a few inches here and there, but no where near the rate it could grow if it had transparency allowing the light in. If we keep building walls blocking ourselves from the community around us, we'll never blossom to our full potential either. Transparency between our peers and ourselves is vital to our wellbeing and the continuation of figuring out the amazing relationship we have with Christ. 

     Something I've been really holding onto this season of my life is the importance of community. We hear it all the time, that loving conviction is one of the greatest things a community can offer us because it's also extremely rare. We desire a community willing to point out the flaws we can't recognize in ourselves- a community willing to dish out honest but stick around to help us work out the kinks in our lives. But as hopeful as we are to have a community willing to do so, how many times do we get angry at God when he's convicting of us? A lot of times we forget that our communities based around Christ also include Christ. If our community holds christ in the center... He is very much included in it. And just like we desire peers who are convicting of us, we should welcome our God to be as well. 

     The first step to change is recognizing something needs to be changed in the first place. If we aren't transparent enough to acknowledge our faults and the places we go wrong, how can we ever expect people to offer valuable help- or God for that matter. Transparency is vital if we want to continue strengthening our faith. It will always be a work in progress. I'll be first to admit I struggle with it all of the time. But I acknowledge that it's an area I have trouble with, and I know God is working in me constantly changing my heart.

     Our communities revolving around Christ most certainly include Him, and being transparent in those communities is completely necessary if we want to grow from our experiences.