Day 14: Journey Together
As an alumna of Northwest University, I can say with conviction that when my friends and I look back on our time there, one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience was the community: student leaders who walked us through difficult seasons, professors who challenged our thinking, coaches who pushed us to our limits, and peers who helped deconstruct our misconceptions about each other and the world.
However, I can also say with conviction that there were myriad moments during our years on campus that we lamented that same community. We saw the good, but also the bad, and the ugly.
Richard Plass and James Cofield in their book, The Relational Soul, argue that “in the midst of broken, sinful, frustrating people, God's Spirit is as work creating a transformed community. God is not surprised by our brokenness...In fact, it is in and by the messiness that God does the supernatural work of drawing us into the likeness of his Son" (119).
God’s Spirit calls us to humbly engage with each other, acknowledging our limitations as we journey together towards Christlikeness. Let us not make the mistake to demand of our relationships the perfection, understanding, and acceptance only God provides. Instead may we immerse ourselves in the complex, refining process of communal living, knowing we desperately need it.
Read Romans 12:10-18
Question to Consider
How might I engage with the people in my community in a way that promotes mutual love, accountability, and growth?
Prayer
Jesus, grant me the courage to vulnerably and authentically participate in the lives of those around me. May I embrace the messiness of relationships, let go of the illusion of perfect people, and engage in the tough yet rewarding process of Godly community.
By Ilona Trofimovich, Northwest University Alumna (2014)
MLA Citation: Plass, Richard and James Cofield. The Relational Soul. InterVarsity Press, 2014.