In the face of so much confusion, we decided to come to Flatlanders for a school year and spend some time serving, learning, healing, and re-orienting ourselves. We figured it would be clear at the end what direction we'd continue in. Flatlanders was a perfect fit for who we are as a family, and especially in light of what we'd experienced - but we thought it was only for the short term!
Sometime in the early spring, we started talking with folks here about the future. And what it might look like if we CONTINUED to live at Flatlanders. We were as shocked as anyone to be seriously considering it. A few times in the early months of living in community, Bren and I would look knowingly at each other, communicating... 'we won't miss THIS when we move out of here next year!' The month of November was particularly challenging; there were a few times when we wondered if we'd make it to June at all.
Then the snow was melting and the weather started warming, and we began exploring lots of good options for our family. Moving back to the town our house lives in was pretty high on the list of possibilities. One of our kids desperately wanted that to happen. But the more we explored, the less likely it seemed. A number of other options just didn't feel right either - it was like walking by a beautiful dress in a window and loving it until you try it on and realize that even though it FITS, its not 'you' at all.
In some bizarre, but yet really basic way, Flatlanders (for us, anyway) was more like a dress that you walk by and don't even notice - then one day you actually SEE it, and realize ' I love this - its just right!' (I can hear Brendan snickering as he reads this - no, he doesn't try on dresses!!)
So, one Thursday in April, over lunch, we told our friend Andy that we had made our decision, and we wanted to stay and join the Long Term Team; a minimum two year commitment! He was surprised and excited about what this might mean for the future. We thought the focus of the next year would be recruiting more leaders and establishing a strong core team for the community.
Our biggest challenge during our first year at Flats was not having enough leadership, and not having enough time to feel like we were addressing the needs around us very well. We often felt very alone in the task of being the 'stable core' of the community. (And what miracle earned us the title of 'stable', anyway?!) Priority #1 for the future would be addressing the leadership gap ... or so we thought.
The best part of the story?
The same day we told Andy we were 'signing on the dotted line', he told us he'd gotten an email from a family who wanted to talk more about moving into Flatlanders as leaders... with their three boys (all under 7!)
That same night, Andy went to a meeting and met up with two other couples (one of whom has a 4 year old and is expecting baby #2 any day), and they also said they were interested in talking more about Flatlanders and leadership.
Shortly after that, two of the founding members of the community started coming around, spending more time, hanging out for weekends. We figured out that they were exploring the possibility of moving back in and wanted a good read on the community dynamics.
The rest of the story is that all of those interested parties are moving in this summer. For fall, our leadership team is complete, and we are already working together, discerning how we'll grocery shop, care for the place, hang out with our neighborhood friends more, and be an effective, authentic, transparent and caring team. Tomorrow, we are working on our greenspace and doing deep clean together, followed by a potluck bbq. We are having so much fun getting to know each other, knowing that we'll soon be sharing much of life together.
It makes me smile all over to think that these details were already being woven together while we were wondering where the people were going to come from. I shake my head at the astounding evidence of God's care and provision for Flatlanders.
When I pause to consider the origins of the concept that became our community, it is amazing that the funding, the energy, the practicalities, the construction and zoning, that ALL the many, many details came together. Its impossible NOT to see faithfulness and provision, a nurturing and able hand getting right up close to all the details. Would you believe that the seeds started in the idealistic minds of some young theology students from CMU? That there was sufficient faith for those seeds to find water, soil, light - to blossom and bear fruit over and over again? And in ways no one initially envisioned?
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name for he is gracious. For I know that the Lord is great; our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain and brings wind from his storehouses.- psalm 135
Thanks for reading about our exciting times.. can't wait to share the stories to come. We are pretty sure we wont live in community forever, but we're sure glad for the chance to do it for now.
Here are some good words from some of our new friends moving into Flatlanders this summer; (from an email sharing the decision with their friends and family)
"Our hope is to be more relatable, not less. As we learn God’s heart, we want to grow more alive, less dull, in this adventure. We seek greater perspective, learning and immersed, unsheltered from our world and one another. We want to experience real living. Not perfect living. Not safe living. But a rich, good life full of highs and lows, joy and sorrow, faith and uncertainty, as we share our family and learn the meaning of life with others. " (S & J)
“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing”. - Helen Keller
Cool.
ReplyDeletePs 25.14
The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his ways known to them.
very cool!
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