Community Over Competition

Community over Competition

Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Leaving the gathering, I walked out into the soothing crispness of twilight, a sunset of brilliant pinks and oranges fading into dappled hues of violet and blue. My car exited the small town, and I turned up the music as I headed out on the two-lane highway.

As my car dipped through rural hollows, I reflected on the value of community: how these friends—fellow writers and ministry-oriented women who have passions and goals that I love to witness—have silently passed me Kleenex to dry my tears, given hugs that squeezed the breath from my lungs, and laughed about everything from children to procreation, old lady jokes to hashtags.

These women span generations and cultures, but together they volunteer with a statewide women’s ministry organization to put on conferences for single moms, female leaders, and women from all walks of life. As a collective, they work with a united purpose, urging one another on from good things to even greater things. They embody the idea of community over competition.

Driving down the highway, I couldn’t help but think about how this unity among friends is fostered by my friend Carol, the director of the ministry. Carol leads as a servant in many ways. She excels at helping people find their niche and gives them space to lead their own area well, without micromanaging the details. Once Carol has placed someone in a position of authority, she goes out of her way to find the good—and praise it. She encourages those around her rather than focusing on her own accomplishments. And when things go awry, as they so often do with large-scale events, Carol’s classic phrase is, “That’s just the way we like it.” She has made adaptation a way of life, and she’s taught us to approach situations with grace and people with compassion.

Carol’s leadership calls out the innate, unique gifts of each person around her so they can work in harmony for Christ’s glory. How much could our church groups, friend groups, neighborhoods, schools, and communities benefit from incorporating that kind of servant leadership? As followers of Christ, let’s resolve to take the lead in fostering this friendly sense of community, coming together to love and work for the benefit of all.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Invest in a community of friends working toward a common goal. Help others find their niche, praise their efforts, and adapt when things don’t go as expected.