Haley
I’m currently about halfway through this women’s bible study at church. It’s been a year since I’ve been part of a women’s group like this, and I’ve truly missed it. So far, it’s been very eye-opening as I do some soul searching and self reflection. I’ve been convicted about some of my questionable thoughts and actions—and very humbled as I work to get back on course, stumbling through apologies and working hard to think before I speak or act. This study has also shone a light on other areas of my life, springing me out of the trenches of motherhood to probe and ask deeper questions about my own purpose in this life and what I’m able to do with the gifts or talents I’ve been given.
In a nutshell, the idea of community has come to the forefront. I have found community with pockets of people at my church and in my hometown, but my heart is pulling me towards this idea of community in other ways as well. I’m trying to get my head wrapped around it all and not commit to too much, but instead pause to listen before following through.
I think that one of the greatest things God has gifted us in this life is the ability to create connections and relationships and community with others. And I have to remind myself that these intangibles greatly outweigh any of the fleeting tangibles in my life.
All that to say, you may see a slight shift in blog content to rope in this concept of community. For the past few months, I’ve written (purposefully) on broad topics that apply to broad audiences. But I’m feeling a pull to focus more on my local community.
I want to offer value to my own community. I want to build connections, offer ideas for local family activities or ways for moms to connect, and maybe even bring to light humanitarian issues.
In this life, we all have a platform. Maybe you have the ear of a coworker, the attention of your teammates, the interest of an acquaintance or the respect of a young person. Maybe you have a pulpit or maybe you have a lowly blog. But I think that whether we are introverts or extroverts or a mix of the two, it’s up to us to use our platforms to better the greater good. So I’m striving to be mindful of the platforms in my life—without worrying about what others may think of me—and ensure I am doing all I can to shine my flickering light and bolster community.
