Water

I've been enjoying watching the community life that goes on outside of our window. People that live nearby hang out in the courtyard at least a couple of times a day when the water comes on and the common tap that supplies water begins to flow (ours gets pumped to a tank on the roof during these times). It's been fun to observe their individual personalities, hear the clinking and clanging of pots and pans, the chatting and laughter.

There are arguments, too. Sometimes quite heated. But before too long it goes back to the general sharing of lives, teasing, and playfulness.

You see, while they represent different personalities, families, types of employment, etc, they have to work it out and get along. Because they all share the same source of water!

I've been learning a lot about fellowship in the Body as well since we live in close community with co-workers here. They are an awesome group of people and we get along really well, but in a practical way it's brought Rom 12: 9-18 to life. Words like, "Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them," takes on a deeper meaning when you're around 'them' 24-7 while overheated and overworked. "Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable," when the 20 women from the T-shirt unit upstairs walk past my open door numerous times a day and can easily assess the atmosphere of what's going on in our home.

It challenges me about how to live that way in a broader perspective, too. We are all so different; have different goals, dreams, callings on our lives, preferences, things we do or don't enjoy-----but we really SHOULD to get along.

Why? WE share the same Source of Water, too.