The Pastor’s Desk

If there is one thing that is often on my mind it is community. The community of Ebenezer, the wider community of Marion, and the even wider still community of people of faith. And lately as I have thought about community, I have found myself to be just incredibly grateful for the communities that I get to be a part of. While in New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering, among 16000 other people I ran into so many former classmates and current colleagues. And there were even more that I knew were in attendance but never got to see in person. It was always a joy to watch recognition light up someones eyes the same way I knew mine lit up and then to be grabbed in a tight hug. They were all hugs that said “I know you’re tired, I am too. I know your kids are driving you crazy, mine are

too. I know you are sweating in places you didn’t even know you could sweat, solidarity, I am too.” Each hug provided an energy boost to my tired self. As an introvert my normal way to recharge is being alone, or being in company with Kurt but silently doing our own things. These were not options on this trip. I was lucky if I got to go to the bathroom on my own without one of my girls shouting through the door asking me where something was lol. And I forgot that silence even existed on that trip. And yet my body found itself able to recharge in the solidarity of others understanding my fatigue. What a gift to be so understood. I am so lucky to have the co-conspirators that I do in the Highlands Conference. Highlands Conference has always been unique in the way that the churches and pastors work together, and it’s a tradition that has continued on. I always brag about Ebenezer and ya’lls ability and desire to help others in the wider community. Whenever there is a need, ya’ll meet it. I’m grateful for the people in the wider community of Marion that I have gotten to know and get to work with. God made us to be a communal people, because our God is a communal God. What a gift it is to know that our God loves to be in community and created us with that same desire.