We spent a few days with a young couple in Boulder. Friends, whom we’ve been journeying with for the last few years. They live life with intention and deep faith. He left a good gig in Silicon Valley to help her pursue her passion to create a platform supporting women entrepreneurs. They’ve had their share of personal heartache in their journey.
When some of us experience deep heartache our tendency is to retreat. To question why. To even give up. Their background, their upbringing has been full of loss. Loss of parents, loss of role models. To many, this type of loss is an excuse to feel sorry for one’s self. Their loss has been a compass to seek out others to live life with fullness, in accountability, in community. Making the choice to not go alone. They seek rhythm in life with others. Encouraging one another, praying for one another, breaking bread together, grieving together. They seek authenticity together. And it is love that spurs them on.
In their community, they demonstrate a connectedness that is rare. They don’t follow a prescribed plan, a calendar or an agenda. They connect because of love. Because they know we’ve been called to live life in community. They want to help one another live this thing called life well.
We shared a meal with some of their community. In the afterglow of the meal, the conversation went deep quickly. Sharing life joys and sorrows, lessons learned and disappointments. We ended the time in an incredible coming together of prayer. They prayed deeply for one another, they prayed deeply for us, sending us on the next phase of our journey. It was sweet, it was unexpected, it was humbling. It was a gift.
It was a reminder. We are made for one another. Part of the same body, which means we have a responsibility to one another. We are to be there for one another in the joys, celebrations and the sorrows. We are not meant to live apart from one another.
In the Silicon Valley, in our western way of life, it is so easy to disconnect. To make it about one’s self. My mission, my purpose. Myself. To ignore the journey of others. To forget that we are each gifted uniquely for the purpose of helping one another on this journey. If we are not happy with one another, we leave. We don’t easily allow one another to speak honestly into our respective lives. We will accept praise and support, but when it comes to challenge or accountability, those are harder to accept.
The second greatest command – love one another. As we love ourselves. As He has unconditionally loved us.
If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1
Such simple words, but so easily ignored. Love is not an option. It is a mandate.