Hasad or What is Community?

After my pitiful, pitiful confession yesterday, I decided to delve deeper in what it means to be a community.  According to the American Heritage Dictionary it is ~

community ~ (n) ~ 1a.  group of people living in the same locality and under the same government;  1b. the district or locality in which you live; 2. social group or class having common interests; 3. similarity or identity i.e. a community of interests

The Bible's definition of a community looks like this ~


All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. (Acts 2:44-47)


They were together; they broke bread; they gave to each other as needed; they shared a sincere desire to reach out to each other ; they praised God --- and God's favor was on them.

I want my community to mean more than a geographic area or shared interests.   I want community to mean really connecting with one another.  I want community to mean reaching out to people who don't necessarily fit within my finite social sphere.  I want community to mean constantly redefining what connection looks like in my life.   And I don't want to do it out of guilt or a "I should" feeling or looking for a reward.  I want to do it out of sincere conviction that it is a joy and privilege to serve others ~  and in doing so I am serving my God.