Community

My dogs get a very important truth: Life is better lived in community. They are each other's best buds. They play together all the time. When we walk them, they want to walk side by side, not one in front of the other. Sometimes they still have fights and get mad at each other if they steal each other's toys or treats, but they are quick to forgive and move on as friends. They know holding a grudge is a waste of time, and they need each other. Gimli had to be convinced of this when we first got Virginia. She has always been a little cuddle bug, so she tried to snuggle up to him from the get-go. At first, this was very undesirable to Gimli. He would get up and move if she encroached on his space, or push her out of the way. But over time, her sweet spirit won him over. Now he loves cuddling with her as much as she does him. Since we got Virginia, Gimli has been a much more contented and agreeable dog. He gets much more energy out by playing with her. We used to have to walk him 3 times a day (by walk I mean a true walk for 30 minutes, not just a potty break). Now, he doesn't need any long walks.

It can be tempting to try to go it alone in life. It is risky to put ourselves out there to meet new people, invest in friendships, & resolve conflict. It's so much easier to invest all our time in the person we know how to please the best- ourselves. I am a very social person, so I'm not tempted to go it alone, but I am tempted to be lazy about my relationships when I am focused on what I get out of the relationship rather than what I can give. I am often tempted to avoid difficult people because they require more work and energy, when they are the ones who need love and care the most. I am tempted to not invest in relationships when there is little chance of a long term friendship. Why does it have to be long term to be a good use of energy and time? What if the person I am building a friendship with needs that community more than I do? I can become so focused on my own needs that I miss out on a chance to serve others.

People's souls are one of three eternal things, along with God and His Word. What better use of time and energy is there than to invest in something that has eternal significance? God has called us to live in community with others- in fact, we NEED to be in community with others. This can be tough because sinful people are bound to hurt each other at some point. But if we can take the time and energy to make our relationships a priority, resolve conflict, and live life together, we will never be alone. Gimli and Virginia get it. I pray that I will too.