A little reflectin' on community

Wow. What a great couple of weeks. Right now, I'm sitting in my office, and I just can't get rid of this warm, fuzzy feeling that I have been incredibly blessed. Here is why:

My whole life, I have found myself part of wonderful communities. It all started at Bethany Lutheran Church, where no matter how naughty I was during the Christmas program, everyone showered me with love and encouragement and told me I was special and capable and loved. Then, I went to Riverside Elementary and became friends with a group of good people who would go on to be some of my best friends still when we got our High School Diplomas many years later. We weren't the coolest kids in school, but we built a tight community that helped me become who I am.

Not long after that, I went to St. Olaf College, and by my senior year, I was surrounded by these amazing, strong women at the Wendell Berry house, as well as the Ultimate players and "Hoyme boys" that together made up my college family and ensured that I would never, ever feel alone. I was ensured this week that this community would be a life-long blessing when an Olaf alum took me out to dinner and shared some great conversation with me and even gave me a big hug at the end.

Now, I am in the IGERT program and so many times I have realized that this is a community that I am so lucky to be a part of. On Thursday, I helped throw a birthday party for one of my teammates and the food, dancing, talking, and laughter all jammed into their house made me so happy. Then, today, I bought a futon from a lady in Moscow and the two men on my team as well as one of the women in another IGERT team all came to help me move it into my apartment- no hesitation at all. It seems like such a little thing, helping me move furniture, but the fact that in two months I have gained such great friends that would be willing to take some time out of their Sunday to help me is just a great feeling.

Anyway, I just wanted to take some time to reflect on what I have come to realize is probably the most important factor in my life. It is incredible to think of how many things I would NEVER have been able to do if it weren't for these communities of family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Now if only I could have them all in one place :)