Some Thoughts About My Need for Community

Yesterday my daughter showed me a picture of Chloé, my beloved pet (Chihuahua-Shih Tzu mix ). Chloé is now 16---deaf, blind and a little weak. We won’t have her with us much longer and it makes our family sad. But, in her day she was a looker; the picture was of my daughter’s high school graduation picture taken 14 years ago with Chloe prancing on her lap. It brought back many memories of how all relationships are precious---you pet lovers know exactly what I’m musing about. Even today, it’s amazing how often when one of our kids run into high school classmates of long ago they ask about Chloe.

Through the years, Chloe has taught me much about life and relationships. I vividly remember the day my wife brought her home from work---just a little fur ball---and announced that her name was Chloé (Carolyn’s favorite perfume at the time). Our pet’s unconditional love, protectiveness, encouraging “words”, joy-filled spunk, steadiness in bad times, and comfort in trying times speak volumes about how we are to live life in community---or at least they do to me.

I’ve also learned some about how our Holy God has created us and our need for community through Chloé’s life. Although her time with us may be just little longer, her unselfish and enduring love continues---even though she rests or sleeps much of the time in this season of her life, she still likes to cuddle up to one of us, lick us on the hand---“it’s OK, I hear,---we did life together.”

Rereading the Chapter 18 of Blue Like Jazz on community again this morning, Miller’s story of his visit to San Francisco and early morning coffee with a guy named Bill came alive (p. 185). Bill ran this B&B that Miller stayed at and certainly had the spiritual gift of hospitality. He cooked, cleaned and picked up after the guys that stayed there and usually received no thanks---and with a “joyful” heart!

Miller asked him how he kept such a good attitude all the time and his response grabbed me… “if we are not willing to wake up in the morning and die to ourselves, perhaps we should ask ourselves whether or not we are really following Jesus.” This is the picture I’ll remember from Chloé’s life, she woke up every morning with unconditional love toward her “master.”

I have to ask myself this question---Am I waking up every morning with unconditional love (agapé) toward my Lord and to those he places in my life? I don’t know about you, but I have a little work to do in community. Thank you, Father, for your unconditional love and for your grace.

Peace,

Bob