Community, Fellowship and Volcano Lady

Community and Fellowship.

When I see those words typed out I see wholeness. I feel calmness. Then, after pondering, I feel heavy and see division.

Random post, I know. So allow me to step back in time (earlier this week) and explain what brought this to fruition!


Like any other day I stopped at "my gas station" - we all have our favorite one, don't lie! I proceeded to get a fountain pop which is a self treat and got in line, like everyone else. Only this time not so normal. We all waited for quite a long time while two new employees were changing shifts. Key word, new. While this was happening, my mind is going over every new job I've had and the endurance that comes along with such a venture. Of course, with those thoughts come patience and understanding and probably some sympathy.

Let me pause here.

We've all been in a situation that has required us to learn something new. Right? Absolutely! Remember this as we go on.

The lady at the forefront of our line was disturbed. The gentleman kept apologizing and thanking us for what he saw as patience. Eventually, her volcano erupted. It spilled on all of us in line. She left a wake of destruction and hurled curse words like no other. She was done and made that clear.

Now, I also know we have all been in her shoes. Busy. In a hurry. Disturbed. Our eruptions, like hers, spilled on those in our path. Her expectations of them knowing what to do and doing it quickly became her nemesis.

The rest of us were in a bit of a shock at just how far the lava spilled. All was quiet. Then a simple comment from a child, of course, opened up a conversation of patience. Sweet, huh? The rest of us were all able to understand the situation and have the mercy to wait BECAUSE we've been there, in their shoes.

Now, the lady who left who I'm sure vented in her car, will probably at some point be apologetic or at least recognize the wrong doing. We all know after we do such things those feelings come to us in time and that also it wasn't so much about the situation or the people as much as it was about our own selves.

Flash forward to today! I'm at work with my son and his friend whom we have for the weekend and a couple friends stopped in to say hello after they had breakfast and an errand they completed. Such a nice surprise and unexpected! The conversation was sweet and probably longer than we all anticipated. However, it was just the overall community feel of stopping and taking time to do so that filled my heart up.

While these two situations are different they are the same. This is our community. These people are our community. These situations happen every day, I'm sure, in our community.

My conviction lies in how many times I've been the volcano lady. How many times my lava has spilled onto innocent bystanders. How many times, I wonder, have the lava catchers of my eruptions turned into friends?

Which reminds me to never, ever forget the story of my life. How grace and mercy have been shown time and again.

The rest of us in line were able to show just that and I am grateful for just that moment in time where I was given such an opportunity. I also am grateful for being in a community. Good, bad and ugly. There will forever be opportunities.

In the meantime, let's watch out for our own volcano eruptions so that we may stop and hand them over to the One they belong to, the One who can calm us.