Learning community and teamwork is something that hasn’t come natural for me. It has been a daily decision. Like most decisions, if you repeat them enough they become a habit and soon a way of life. Growing up, my surroundings really worked against me in this particular area. They were a dream for development in others that I am extremely grateful for, but in this one, not so much.

I was home-schooled in high-school and was able to intern and lead worship at church starting at a young age. Because of this, many of my peers were involved in typical teen activities, while I was reading, writing, and learning side-by-side with adults. This was great for my Type A personality and honestly I enjoyed achieving and learning alone; I hadn’t really known anything different.

However, as I’ve grown older, I’ve since realized that if you want to be a successful leader, communicator, friend, spouse, sibling, etc… you can’t do life alone. We weren’t created and wired for it. We were wired for community. We were wired for vulnerability and transparency. We were wired for authentic relationship. We were wired to belong.

The wonderful people that really changed my way of thinking on this was: my husband, opposite of me in almost every way, and really brings out the social butterfly and child-like wonder deep within, and my now pastors; Devin and Ashley Webb, who when I met about 6 years ago completely flipped the way I viewed ministry and helped to revive my love for people and re-ignite a passion for my purpose.

As I’ve been on this new journey as a worship pastor, I’ve discovered that community is messy and can sometimes be tough. However, it is one of the most beautiful and rewarding things you can attach yourself too. In community, there is accountability and encouragement from season to season. Our pastor often says, “Real life change happens in the context of relationships and life is meant to be shared.” I have truly learned over the years that while I can dream and achieve on my own, it is nothing compared to the fulfillment of dreaming and achieving with others, because we are better together.

I encourage you to get connected to others, let your guard down, and live a little. With that being said, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite verses:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”