Guest Author: Elise Hess, Bethel Church Sturgis
Community is defined as: a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
This feeling of fellowship can be found in many different places around the city of Sturgis, from the diner on Main Street, the weekly fitness class, the work break room, the local church. While many of us are engaged in community nearly every day, are we doing the action of community, the verb of community?
The Bible offers some wise advice that can benefit anyone inside or outside the religious community. It is this: Share each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2a). The active definition of community is to share in the burdens [the joys, the struggles, the heartache, the tears, the celebrations] of others.
As humans, we were created for connection, the desire to know that someone cares. Within our community, sometimes we are the ones celebrating while someone near us is worn down from carrying their burdens and struggles. In your celebration, share their burdens. Listen as they share them and help carry them for a bit.
As a mom of two young boys, I have found the verb of community in simple places like story time at the Sturgis Public Library where I am able to connect with other moms who are walking through similar struggles with their kids. I have listened to and prayed for businesswomen who are hoping to make it financially to the next month. I have hugged a mother of a special-needs child in the parking lot of the school after she shared about a tough morning.
Community is everywhere. Where there are people, there is a need for the verb of community. Everyone has a story, everyone has a struggle, everyone has a triumph, everyone has a desire to be heard and loved.
As the wife of a pastor, I have seen people walk through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Life is hard. Life is good. Find someone to share community with and simply be there. Join a local church. Meet a friend for coffee. Take someone out to lunch. Volunteer. Our community will be a better place because you did.
Elise Hess is a native of the Black Hills but recently moved back to the area with her family. She and her husband, Dusty, are pastors of Bethel Church – Sturgis.