Immeasurably more. The thousands of women who bravely stepped forward to be part of the (in)RL community? The ones who met brand new friends in brand new places, the ones who watched on their own from the comfort of their sofas, the ones who gathered two or three together? More than we could have ever imagined.
After a crazy week, I was feeling less than prepared for (in)RL. I knew how awesome it was going to be. I knew that I had amazing friends who were helping to carry the load of hosting, but my heart just wasn’t ready. It was overwhelmed with timelines, Twitter responsibilities, Facebook pages, uploads, photos, emails…oh the emails… and insecurities about being in the (in)RL program this year (goodness why did no one tell me I laugh too loud, said nothing particularly enlightening & that outfit wasn’t as cute as I thought?). I didn’t feel qualified.
And on top of it all, the enemy was doing his level best to attack me physically – during Friday and up until the minute our meet up was over, I fought illness. Y’all, the enemy is not a fan of community because, as Lisa-Jo Baker puts it: Christ is community. I was an emotional mess as hubs took care of our crying daughter so I could be on Twitter Friday night- encouraging me that in that moment, I was where God needed me – the same husband then prayed over me & this community of women before I left the house Saturday (again, more tears), and then told me when it was all over how proud he was (yep. more tears).
So I did what any normal person does in those situations, I started talking out loud in my car, to God, on Friday afternoon, driving between offices. And He revealed something to me.
There is no better example of community than God.
He pursues us.
He stays.
He is love.
There is nothing new about community that we can come up with that He hasn’t already shown us. I remember listening to Sally Clarkson speak at Allume last year, telling us that the way she finds community is to pursue it herself. She finds friends. She invites them into her life. She pursues the relationship, makes plans, and creates community. God pursues relationships with us – so much that He sent His son to earth for us, so that He could be present, walk with us, live life with us.
And then alll weekend we watched videos about the challenge to stay in community. To do the hard thing and keep going back until God calls us to move on. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been hurt by community, I’ve shared parts of my own story over at (in)courage, but I am also living, walking, breathing proof that God redeems bad community through good community. When we can’t see the reason for the broken, lonely moments, God knows. He knows what we’ll walk through in the future, and He knows what we need to work through now so that we can have hearts ready for that moment. And in the hard parts? The good parts? The lonely parts and in between parts? God stays. He stands with us.
And we love. Because He first loved us.
So we met together. Friends from birth, friends for decades, new friends. We broke bread (possibly in the form of donuts) and drank coffee. We shared about community and how God is changing lives & hearts online and through technology. We laughed, shopped, did our nails, and stole moments to catch up, snuggled on comfy sofas and seated at kitchen tables.
We stepped away from the screens and out of our comfort zones to love one another in real life. God met us there over fake mustaches and massages, over sweet hugs and beautiful giveaways. We chose to show up. My sisters were brave and chose to meet me. They were gracious as I stumbled through telling them why I love this community so much. And we choose now to stay. To pursue one another, encourage one another. To live life together.
Because life together with my sisters is immeasurably more beautiful than I could ever begin to imagine.
We are fraternal twins but i get a kick how people can tell us apart until they know we are twins, once they know that its game over 🙂
Okay, first of all, I love your laugh! What a wonderful way to sum up the inRL weekend. Your husband sounds wonderful. My husband supported me in a much different way. I was able to drive halfway across the country to be a part of inRL, and to meet a blogging friend inRL. He even cleaned house while I was gone! We are blessed with great Godly men!!
I know, the glitter is coming, no matter the words. I just have to stock up on ponchos and gloves and whathaveyou ahead of time. 🙂
it’s pretty fun, though I don’t even think about it much until someone asks 🙂
Well, from someone who has now seen the inside of my closet, I know you mean that for real 😉 Love you girl. Hoping this year finds us squished on a comfy sofa together in real life 🙂
Can not thank you enough for this kind comment. God has brought me such beautiful sisters. I am blessed.
Yes girl! Do it!
I’ve never been happier to feel so empty 🙂
I love walking in community with you, and literally could not have done the meet up this weekend without you. You are amazing.
ooh girl you can get that super cute scarf here: http://www.dayspring.com/redeemed_rayon_scarf…it’s pretty awesome 🙂 and I’m printing this comment & saving it forever, thank you so much!
praying that courage over you today!
aw thanks girl! and you know, I think there were a LOT of good men making it possible for 6000 women to have a great day of fellowship together. glad mine was one 🙂
yep. we’re the new Lisa-Jo & Ann. the end. (ps don’t think that all these nice comments will cause me to bring you any less glitter when we meet in real life…)
{{hugs}} so glad to walk in community with you Jacque. You are an annointed writer with words that uplift and encourage – so thankful for you.
oh Mary that is so fun! are you an identical twin? (I have to say, I have been completely freaking people out with that photo..hehe…)
looking forward to that day as well!
Oh what a blessing it is to have husbands who pray for us & support the call God lays on our lives. What a blessing your words were this weekend, Thank you! So neat that your a twin…I am too :-).
“There is no better example of community than God…He pursues us. He stays. He is love.” Yes! I love that and it is SO true. May we pursue and stay and love too as we represent Him to women who are longing for community. I am giving thanks for your encouraging and inspiring leadership Crystal. Thank you. xoxo
You did a great job with the Twitter. No one would never have known you weren’t feeling 100%. And p.s. your laugh is just fine and so was your outfit, your makeup, your hair, and whatever else you might not love on that video. Read our comments: we see beauty.
What a blessing to have such a hubs… and to be surrounded by such amazing women! Love love love this, girl! (and don’t listen to the enemy – you looked super cute on the video and I loved hearing you!) <3
“She finds friends. She invites them into her life. She pursues the relationship, makes plans, and creates community.” That’s what I want the courage to do!!!!
I noticed how cute your scarf was right off the bat and didn’t hear your too-loud-laugh. I was just thrilled to see YOU…the one who reached out to me when I needed prayer. The one who welcomed me at the fmfparty…beyond twitter or your blog…it was YOU! God uses you in an amazing way, Crystal. You’re perfect, as is. No adjustments to volume or wardrobe necessary. 😉
I love you sister!! Thanks for the opportunity to help & hang out!!!!
He stays and we can too! We love because He first loved us…— yes!!! I know you are all poured out girl. But in a good way.
Love watching you do what He made you to do!
So cool… I always wished I had a twin 😉
I love your loud laugh! Your whole life lived shining bright for His glory enlightens us! And your adorableness comes from the inside out, so you are pure cuteness in any outfit you wear! <3
Right? All these women get together and it’s my MAN who makes me cry all weekend! Could not have walked this weekend without you prayers, sister. Makes me so proud to know you.
You got it…she’s my twin 🙂
I loved seeing you on the video, and I have that scarf, so of course, I was digging the outfit 😉 And, if you laughed too loud, I certainly didn’t notice. Funny how hard we are all on ourselves.
Your meetup looked lovely, and that has to be your sister on the right hand side of the photo, because you look exactly alike {I’m going to feel really silly if she is a twin}.
I “heart” you! Very, very much! And hubs praying over you… well that makes for an interesting makeup repair at work. So proud of you friend… so proud of you for staying and banishing those lies. Glad “you’re my people” and it is an honour to know you and call you sister.
*smooch*
So grateful for you and that you are community to me.