Yesterday we hosted an Open House at our home for my stepson, Jack. This was a celebration of his recent graduation from High School but also a send off to Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia on July 5th. It seems fitting that he leaves to begin serving his country in the military the day after Independence Day. Jack is the baby of our family, all grown up and serious about what challenges lie ahead. We’re both very proud of him as were the many others who joined us yesterday to wish him well. We had family to celebrate, of course, but my mother noted about mid-afternoon how many people from our church had come out as well. They came to show their support of Jack  which meant so much to all of us. We have only attended this church for less than 4 years but the members have surrounded us with love and caring right from the moment we first stepped into their doors. This still amazes me.

It should not amaze me that this level of caring still exists. But there is so much unkindness in the world that when I see true kindness that is given without any expectation of return, it feels like such a treasure. I look around me and am thankful to God for this pocket of goodness that surrounds me. Community is something to be cherished but it is a vanishing commodity. We often blame our transient society on its demise but it’s more than that. As a society, we don’t value community. Maybe we’re even a little fearful of it. It’s much easier to hide our faults and flaws behind facades if we function in all areas of life as independent, separate individuals. In community we’re vulnerable. We’re accountable to the larger group. We all have our parts to play in the whole and if we don’t play those parts, the whole suffers. But the reverse is also true. If we play our parts, as many instruments in an orchestra, then we produce a beautiful melody, much deeper and richer than one instrument alone. Each individual functions better in supportive community.

Anymore though, most of us don’t seek community. We don’t know the people living around us in our neighborhoods and we have very little comradery in our workplaces. We have a type of community with our kids’ sports teams but it has an adversarial mentality. I’ve seen more hatefulness at Little League and soccer games than I wish to mention. But the church is not always the caring community that it should be. There is divisiveness brought on by selfishness and personal control issues that drive people away. However, when the church exists as it was envisioned by the apostles, it is a beautiful thing to behold.

One of my favorite passages in scripture is the roll call of the faithful people listed in the book of Hebrews. From Noah and Abraham to Sampson and the prostitute, Rahab, the writer lists heroes of the faith from past times.  I have always found it comforting to know that we are surrounded by this “great cloud of witnesses.” But I now think I only partially understood this passage. Yes, it speaks of people of faith who have gone before to pave the way but it also speaks of those who are walking with us now. We have a great cloud of witnesses on the earth today who tirelessly encourage us, lift us up, pray for us, and hold us accountable. They are the ones who anonymously give a gift to help a single mom or give an elderly neighbor a ride to the grocery. Sometimes we know who these faithful ones are but many times we don’t. They are all over the world doing their part, playing their instruments even if no one is listening. Somewhere in heaven there is a list, like the list in Hebrews, with their names on it.Their individual notes combine to form the greatest orchestra that is the present day cloud of witnesses. I personally know some of these people and I am ever thankful to be a part of their faith community. I know that I am a better person for it.