Three symbols of community

Training a team of missionaries (soon departing for Africa) in our home last week helped me see first-hand
what we’re missing. They filled every
nook and cranny in the house and many of the available hours of the day. But somehow, it wasn’t a drain. Doing life together seemed more natural than
protecting my territory. Meditating on
the subject of community, I thought of these symbols:

Pineapple

In Colonial times, the pineapple was a symbol for
hospitality. Pineapples were an exotic
taste
treat and highly prized. The
hostess who provided them for her guests had spared no expense. Even today, a flag with a pineapple on it
represents an open door and an invitation to come in and enjoy a drink and the
company inside.

We need more pineapple flags flying in front of our
houses. And along those lines, a good
test of community is the doorbell. If
people have to ring it, then you still have a ways to go to get to community.

Broken clock

We fill too many of our days with things that don’t
matter. It’s not that any of the
activities in and of themselves are bad, it’s just that there are too many of
them. People need to stop getting in
their cars and going places. They need
to turn off the TV. They need to create
a space where community can happen.

Yesterday, after going to the institutional church (we
are the church after all – we do church
every day, not just on Sunday), I was tempted to spend the afternoon watching
football. Instead I spent time with my
community. The more time you have to
give, the tighter your community is likely to be.

Fireplace

There’s something about a snowy night outside and a warm
fireplace inside. When you’re a kid, you
delight in the stories told around the fireplace. Karen and I have a sign that says, “Live,
Love, Laugh, Dream.” All that happens
most in one of the smaller rooms in our home – the family room. It has a fireplace, a couch, two chairs and
some pillows. Next to the kitchen, it’s
the busiest room in the house.

What kind of atmosphere do you cultivate in your home? Is it warm and inviting – does community form
there? Do people come early and stay
late?