STELLAR DAY ISSUE 22 | JUNE 2017
The
June Issue
THE FAMILY TABLE
Nourishing your family around the table can be such a sacred time. One writer shares why.
COMMUNITY
Finding your community and waiting for it to form organically can be hard. But it's worth the wait!
COOKING FOR A CROWD
One writer shows us how to use essential oils to spice up our recipes.
community
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Finding Your Community The Family Table Seeded Carpe Community Communis Hospitality But Even If He Does Not Quinoa Salad Essential Oil Infused Recipes
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What If I Stuck With It? Special Ministries: My Community Creating Community Shake Shack: A Restaurant Review Community At It's Best Community By Design Why You Need A Circle of Security Editors Note
Finding Your Community BY JESSICA
WILLIAMS
Finding your place and your true community can
how it feels to dive in feet first and to still feel like
be HARD. If there is one thing that I know, it’s that
a fish out of water. To feel like you’re screaming in
the enemy wants us to live in pure isolation. He
a room and no one can hear you. To feel alone and
wants us to feel so secluded, so left out, and so void
not truly seen, sort of misunderstood and
of friendships. If he can make us too busy to step
wondering if you’ll ever belong.
outside and say hello to our neighbors, he’s done his job. If we’re made to feel like we will never fit
I get it.
in and like we are so unworthy of friendships, he wins.
But God created you FOR community. When people fail you and you want to give up, DON’T. Push
It’s all lies.
further. Push harder. Maybe this is the wrong advice but my gut is telling me to tell you, DON’T
You ARE worthy of friendships. The desires that
GIVE UP. Pushing through and searching for your
the Lord has placed inside your heart to want and
people, your tribe, your group, and family will be
crave community are real and they are alive! He
worth it. It will be worth the fight. You might be
has given us the desires to need people so that we
reading this and be so ready to give up on
would go and find community. So we would find
everyone. You’re ready to walk away and to never
where we would best fit, be heard, loved, lifted up
look back. You’re ready to say, ‘screw you too!’ and
and ministered too. We were created for
to wash your hands of any and everyone you have
community and for a lot of it.
ever called a friend.
I know how hard it is to find your place. I know
But I want to hold your shoulders, look you in the
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that can form and create the greatest community that each and everyone of us needs. Lean into the Lord. Finding the place where you belong can be challenging, it takes a lot of time, effort and patience. But I know that the fight is worth it. I know that if you’re open, the Lord will bring people from all walks of life like you never expected. I know that He will bless you in ways you never fathomed because of your faithfulness. His desire is for you to do life in friendship with others. If you haven’t found it yet, DON'T GIVE UP.
eyes and say, DON’T GIVE UP. Finding the right community where you belong is worth WAY more than giving up. It’s worth fighting for. It’s worth holding onto. People will fail us in one way or another, no matter what. That’s why we don’t cling to our
WE DON'T CLING TO OUR COMMUNITY AS OUR HOPE.
community as our hope. We cling to them as what the Lord has gifted us. In all their flaws, misunderstandings, hurts and messed up lives and ways just like ours. They are people and people are messy. They will fail us every time. Our hope is in Jesus. He is the true friend who will never fail us. We were created to live together, in community, and in friendship. But it’s important not to put our expectations of community above what the actual truth is. The truth is, Jesus is the only one who will never fail us. He is the only one that can cure the loneliness. He is the only one that will never abandon us. And He is the only one
WE CLING TO THEM AS WHAT THE LORD HAS GIFTED US.
THE FAMILY TABLE By Sarah Humphrey Photos By Craig Murray
What a gift it is to have a loving family. We are a world looking for community. We are a generation that has been marked by broken connection. And we are also a generation who has chosen to protect the value of family above most else. It’s a beautiful desire-- to cultivate the community we long for inside our homes. For many of the women in my immediate circle, we are moms. Our days are spent nourishing and serving, developing minds, and responding to needs. It takes a lot of grit to manage, to gently remind, and to fill up. What I love most about serving in my closest community, my family, is that the
five of us will always be together. When David and I got married, we committed to never separating. We’ve spent our last 13 years continuing to choose one another, and in choosing one another, also choosing our children. Above all other needs, God has given us family in order to develop and to grow, to be loved and to love, to serve and to share. If I give my life to anything in this current season, it is to these precious faces in my little tribe which I have committed my life to. They are my covenant relationships, and we become richer because we have one another. It’s not always easy, especially as the
Text here "Above all other needs, God has given us family in order to develop and to grow, to be loved and to love, to serve and to share."
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children are young, but if I want to develop a sense of community in my world, I live that out from the community inside my home. As women’s rights has been at the forefront of the last year in many ways, it is always my greatest desire to fill my children with the knowledge that women can do anything. And they can do anything because of the faithfulness of God and the support of family. As a mother, I tend to history every-single-day. I change nations by my presence with my children. I grow stronger by being guided by the hand of my husband, and I believe in my beauty as I step forward into my expressive creativity. And this all comes from the context of my connection in our kitchen. It’s where we eat, fill our bellies, and nourish our souls. It’s where we sit at the table and share our days, hear the struggles and the joys, drink in each others’ lives and also make sure plates are cleared.
"If I want to develop a sense of community in my world, I live that out from the community inside my home." And after we fill up, it’s also where we clean up. We re-organize from our gathering together, we wash and we dry, and we put the leftovers in the fridge. Later that fridge will be opened in a search for something sweet and satisfying, gulps of chocolate milk or strawberries to cut before fully settling down. The family. The kitchen. Our community. It’s where our needs are met and cultivated. It’s where we fill up and where we connect. It’s where we sometimes pass by each other quickly--but always slow down for a dance or two. Our connection and our refreshment is in family. And it’s my greatest joy to steward the simple supernatural that unfolds there every single day. Sarah Humphrey is wife to David and the mom to three little ones. She loves to write, create, and connect from within her home as a way of expressing her joy to the world. She’s an advocate of whole and balanced living and loves belly laughing with good friends. Her books can be found online and in stores. You can also follow her family’s new blog at www.thehumphreytable.com.
SEEDED By Esther Gallagher What do you get when you cross a 100% Sicilian raised in a Pentecostal church who, in college as a religious studies minor, tried to find her zen, her nirvana, and her next, better life in Eastern religions, who married an Irish Catholic, sent their kids to Jewish preschool and raised them in a Lutheran church? Â STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 07
A. People who know how to hail Mary, find nirvana in the mundane, and dance in the church aisles on Sunday morning. B. A carb-loving people who can survive solely on Irish soda bread and pasta while reciting the Shema [reference Duet. 6: 4-9]. C. People who are either totally confused about which faith community they belong to and/or who can pretty much find God in anything and any setting.
I won’t answer for my husband and kids, but I for one have fit into all of the above in some point of my life or another. Over the last year, I’ve had the privilege of working for a Messianic Jewish organization which has totally blown my mind in terms of learning about God’s plan for Jews coming to faith in Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, in ushering in the return of the Messiah to fully restore Israel and establish His Kingdom on earth. Some of my co-workers are Jewish, most are not, but all of us have come to faith in Yeshua/Jesus and have a heart for providing medical aide, clean water, and economic development support to lost Jewish tribes in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, and medical and financial support to Holocaust survivors in Israel. My job responsibility is to write policies and procedures, working behind the scenes, while other employees are the hands and feet on the campgrounds in Africa or clinics in Jerusalem. We hail from both non-denominational and denominational backgrounds, either work behind computer screens or outside of tents, but we come together to do what the Lord has seeded within us-- to love well, sharing the Gospel with the Jew first and then unto the nations [Rom. 1:16]. With a name like Esther, you would probably think that I’m trying to fulfill
"YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE SEEDS PLACED IN YOUR HEART." my Old Testament/Covenant namesake. I’ll tell you though, I hated my name as a kid and thought it sounded so old lady’ish compared to my friends growing up in the 80’s with bubblegum-pop, fluorescent pink sounding names like Kelly, Jennifer, and Stephanie. It bugged me that ‘Esther’ didn’t flow with my last name (Savona) when a first name that ends with “a” would have been a better combination; like Gabriella Savona, Teresa Savona, Maria Savona-- much more Italian flag’ish and all-things-pasta
sounding than Esther Savona. When I’d introduce myself to someone, the inevitable conversation would commence… Oh, you must be named after Queen Esther? Do you know the story of how she saved her people? And while of course, I knew the story of the Queen I was named after, those questions just left me uncomfortable kinda like, ugh – gag me with a spoon. Stephanie and Jennifer didn’t get any historicalcultural-biblical questions like I did, just questions about how they teased their bangs so high. No fair- so much easier for them to introduce themselves than for me. I certainly wasn’t interested in getting into scriptural discussions about my name, much less model my life around the Queen’s character, heart for God, or service to her people. So how did I find my way into a community working for Jews in Africa? Well, you can’t ignore the seeds placed in your heart and I was probably about five years old when a show about feeding starving kids in Africa left me with my own sort of hunger pang; wanting to provide for people hungry for not just food and basic needs, but also for love. And over the years, Africa would speak to me now and then, asking me to consider; would we be open to adopting a child from Africa, would I someday have the chance to do mission work there through my church, maybe travel there on safari? But none of those things have come to pass. And what life experience connected me to Jewish people considering I only had one Jewish friend in high school and one in college with whom I never discussed anything about their faith or their heritage - other than what they got for Hanukkah. Well, in college, I studied the arts and humanities (some would call it the equivalent to basket weaving) and was fascinated with
my Jewish Studies course. As a westerner growing up with John Denver in a God-Blessed-USA in a not very diverse neighborhood, I had an engrained Judao-Christian worldview but this class opened my eyes further to the Judao part-- to the Jews who worship a covenant-keeping God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who does not forget His promise of restoration to anyone, and especially to the nation of Israel; who doesn’t want them to become uncircumcised and give up their Jewishness. Something just resonated within me about the biblical importance of Israel and the Jews as a chosen people and it ended up being my favorite class. Fast forward a few years later when we had our first baby, Ella, and needed to find daycare. We visited several places, checking for the usual (ratio of teachers to kids, affordability, hours, development style) until we landed on a Jewish preschool. We didn’t seek out anything specifically Jewish, were referred by another non-Jewish family and it immediately felt like the right place for our sweet girl. As one of two non-Jewish families, it didn’t matter that we were the minority because the community felt like home--nurturing, safe, loving-- at the onset. We celebrated Shabbat services on Fridays with our classes, the kids ate challah for snack, we learned about the Seder plate, and celebrated the Lord’s deliverance of the Jewish people from Pharaoh through Moses. And from those childhood years beautiful friendships for my kids, and for me, were born that remain
strong to this day.
"GOD PLACES US IN COMMUNITY ON PURPOSE AND HE PREPARES US IN ADVANCE OF GETTING THERE."
Never would I expect that the yearning in my heart for Africa, my college class or our daycare experience would eventually connect me to my job today. But you can’t fight the community you were meant to live, work or serve in; you can’t avoid the seed that takes root when you’re five years old or over time during your work, school, family-rearing years. I’m sure some people look at me and think, “Is she a confused Christian or wanna-beJewish?”… I can tell you this; truly, truly, truly I know I am exactly where I’m supposed to be and it’s not because of conditions I intentionally created, because I secretly wish I was born Jewish, or think that
because Sicily is so close to Africa that my ancestors hailed from there. God places us in community on purpose and he prepares us in advance of getting there; for me, it took almost 37 years because He had his work cut out for me! He plants a seed, waters it drip by drop or sometimes through a sudden, gushing outpouring; He either shouts or whispers passions and pursuits into our hearts through songs, signs, wonders, dreams and revelations, people that he brings us, and through His Word. Look around at the people in your local/national/international community. What beckons you to them and how can you serve what they’re hungry for? Do they live in another continent, are they in your book club, or on the periphery of your little bubble holding signs on your freeway exit to work? What is it that connects you to them or breaks your heart for their hearts? What life experiences have shaped and prepared you for such a time as this? Are you a professional photographer and have a gift for seeing beyond the lens into the hurt of someone’s eyes? Are you an accounting guru and can offer your time bookkeeping for a non-profit? Did you grow up on a military base, moving from place to place, and have a heart for helping new families that move into your schools acclimate into the community? Everything you have experienced, the good and hard, can and will be used for His purposes. If you don’t know what that He wants you to do right now just ask Him but also rest assured, He will eventually get you there whether you ask or not. That’s what He does. He’s working through the details, behind the scenes, on you right now as we speak.
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Carpe Community By Tara Chatterton When I was a little girl I was shy, awkward, and I had zero friends. Yes, zero. Eventually, I made friends of course and I found my “people” with the concert-goers and mosh-pitters. They didn’t mind that my hair was all sorts of colors or that I didn’t have a well paying job, kids, a house… As young people our whole life is simply our community. Fast forward to my early thirties and finding my “people” has become a little trickier. I have a handful of girlfriends from high school that I adore but geography can get in the way (thank goodness for text messages). What is it about adulthood that makes finding our “people,” or our community, so difficult? Are we really more self-conscious than teenagers or maybe just pickier because our time feels more valuable? I can’t say I know what the true cause is for everyone, but I do know that I had to decide to make my own community for the sake of not feeling like that awkward little girl once again. This isn’t a pity party, just reality. As young adults and beyond we find ourselves incredibly busy and our time and attention is required from so many people and things. We simply have to be judicious with our time! That being said, we don’t often find our peers reaching out to us so easily. I can’t remember the last time someone said “hey you like that band, too? Let’s hang out!” If you have, please tell me your secret. Why do we even need community though? Well, first off we are simply made to connect. Even the shyest introvert needs some human connection. I know quite a few extroverts who I’m pretty sure would die without a human in their life for even five minutes. We need a place to belong, share our creativity, our hopes, our dreams, failures, fears, struggles, and more. We need community to lift us up and sometimes pull us off our high horse. I could go on and on… Creating my own community was not easy at first. Who did I want to surround myself with? How close do I let people get to me? How do I not end up like Regina from Mean Girls, picking and choosing my community based on frivolous qualities? Then I began to look around. I was surrounded by people who were as busy
"If we want connection we need to create connection. I can’t sustain my community without putting in some effort."
as I but dying for connection as well. I simply reached out and put myself out there. I am not an extrovert but can turn it on when I need to. I’m not saying this won’t be exhausting for you introverts out there but it’s well worth it. Your circle of influence is going to look so different than the next girl but your “people” are there. I have two major communities in my life: photography and church. I befriended two amazing photographer friends who let me tag along to some styled sessions, then reaching out to more photographers, going to some social events (which I HATE, guys!), and being intentional with who I really connect with. Then I found some gals from church who wanted to nerd out to theology with me and we just decided to start meeting every month to do just that. Both were leaps of faith and kind of felt like putting myself out there for
rejection but much to my surprise other people want to connect, too! If we want connection we need to create connection. I can’t sustain my community without putting in some effort. We all have our own ways to relate with people. For me it’s caring for them. Doing things, remembering their family details or birthdays, or making them feel special somehow. There are definitely days where I feel too tired to care or one “bad” member makes me feel like giving up, but then when I am struggling that same community comes alongside me. What started as a really uncomfortable and vulnerable step has blossomed into two amazing groups of women who I cherish (and those two communities are even mixing now). Whether the community you create is big or small, have confidence and be bold and seize your community!
COMMUNIS BY MARIA DERMINIO
Community - a term affectionately used today to mean a group of women “doing life together.” It brings to mind friends having coffee and sharing experiences, bringing meals in time of need, and encouraging each other when life turns difficult. Community comes from the Latin word “communis” meaning common, belonging, or shared by. I think women have always had a need to share life together. Think of ancient cultures and women washing clothes in the rivers and talking as they worked. Colonial and pioneer women had sewing circles and quilting bees. We long for community, we look for it, and it satisfies our hearts and souls when we belong to one. With numerous cross-country business moves over my 40 years of marriage, I have looked for my community either in my neighborhood or church. Many places were welcome to newcomers, but some had an indifferent attitude towards those who did not have deep roots to the area. When I wasn’t welcomed I set out to make my own community. I remember a move years ago to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Originally from New York, I found it very difficult to make friends in the land of the “Sooners.” Many families were
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connected for generations and had no idea how challenging it was to move to a new area and start over. People were friendly on the surface but I wanted more. I longed for deeper relationships with women I had things in common with, but also those I could learn from as I was a new wife and mother. My husband traveled frequently with his job and one evening I decided I wanted to develop closer friendships with a few of the ladies I met at church. I invited them over for an evening without children. We had a great time of sharing life stories of our family backgrounds, how we met our husbands, and our struggles as mothers. That started a habit that lasted the three years I lived there. Once every few weeks I would call them with an invitation to our “Tuesday Night.” They would feed their families, put their children to bed, kiss their husbands goodnight, and head over to my house. Our times together included lots of laughter, sometimes so loud I thought my children would wake up! We would eat, talk, eat some more, laugh a lot more, and the hours flew by. As our friendships deepened so did our level of discussions. We covered all areas of life, sharing our opinions and experiences. I still remember our discussions on current events and the Equal Rights Amendment (a hot issue in the early 1980s). I learned from those women to support my husband, even if he wasn’t doing or being what I thought he should be. I learned how to teach my children good values of honesty, hard work, and compassion. I also learned how to be organized in my home. I learned not to judge friends by their background or economic standing, and how to be transparent with my feelings. But most importantly I learned to work on myself and my faults and let God work on other people. Those late night discussions tied our hearts together but our goodbye tradition tied us together even more. When we began meeting, we would end our time with a short prayer at my front door. As our friendships grew so did our prayer time. Often we would spend up to an hour praying for our families, ourselves, world events, and the needs of others. I learned how to pray on the bottom steps of the stairs with those three women as we “did life together.” I remember back to that move where I longed and looked for community. And when I found it a need in my soul was met; need for belonging, sharing, a need for “communis.” Those three women became lifelong friends and my memories of our evenings together are sweet and dear. Maybe I will start a new “Tuesday Nights” and see what more God has to teach me.
I remember back to that move where I longed and looked for community. And when I found it a need in my soul was met; need for belonging, sharing, a need for “communis.”
HOSPITALITY By Rachel Schroeder “That boy is your company. And if he wants to eat up that tablecloth, you let him, you hear?” -Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird “Hospitality means the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend..it is not to change people,, but to offer them space where change can take place.” -Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out: The Three Spiritual Movements Several years ago, our church did a series on hospitality that changed me. It wasn't just a women’s class or a one off sermon. It was a whole series of sermons and discussion questions for small groups that elevated and defined community and hospitality as values of God. Not just skills that some people had and others didn't; but as something everyone of us is capable of and called to. STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 17
"I WANT MORE COMMUNITY IN MY COMMUNITY.. I WANT TO MAKE ROOM FOR PEOPLE." Hospitality was here defined as making room for people. t's a broad definition, but it resonated with my spirit. I don't like large groups of people; they make me anxious. I don't like when women are pigeon holed into being in charge of organizing all the gatherings, and handling all the food. I will never be the perfect hostess. My home will
never be HGTV ready. But I do know how to make room for people. I have been the beneficiary of what community means. Community around my husband and me has taught us what that making room looks like. We've had sweet friends help pay our rent when hospital bills piled up and health issues kept me from working. Close friends from our small group came with us as our partners when we went to marriage counseling. We have walked alongside our friends as they received tough news about their children, or faced debilitating illness or loss. Dear friendsÂ
have checked up on us, when depression has reared its ugly head and one or both of us has begun to withdraw. Writing for this magazine, and having my friends and family believe in me in this way, has made me feel there's a space for me here. I've been shown what it is to be a good friend; that the character of God is found in this kind of friendship. Hospitality and community are tied together for me, and I think they're deeply important. There's a sort of spiritual connection that happens when you share with another; even if it's just a simple meal around your table. This making room for someone, bringing them in from the outside and helping them to feel at home is powerful stuff. I want more of that in my home, in my circle, in my community. I want more community in my community.. I want to make room for people. Â
BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT By Cassidy Rich
“Two Grand Canyon University students killed in a wrong-way car crash” the headline read. I stared at the article on my Facebook feed for a few seconds. I just graduated from there four months ago, I thought, That’s really sad. I scrolled past the article and completely forgot about it. It was Easter Sunday just a few days later and I was hanging out with my family in their hotel room. They traveled all the way from Phoenix to visit me in Washington, D.C. After a long day of touring around, I plopped down on the couch and started looking at what my friends were posting on Instagram. As I was quickly scrolling through, one post caught my eye and I stopped to read the lengthy paragraph the girl had written. I was stunned. The girl who had written the post was mourning the death of her friend and classmate, Karli. The post read: “I am so devastated, confused, and broken inside. Today before work, I found out my dear friend Karli and her sister were STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 19
killed in a crash early this morning.” I couldn’t scroll past this post. I just stared and stared at it. Karli and I shared two classes in my last semester at Grand Canyon University (GCU) and were in a group project together. I began thinking back to all the times I had spoken with Karli and how she had worked so hard in our group project. Now she was gone. Completely gone from this earth, never to return. She wasn’t going to graduate from GCU, she was never going to fall in love and get married, never going to have children, never going to grow old and see her family flourish. She was lying in a casket – lifeless. This was the first time in my life that I had really known someone who passed away. My greatgrandparents all passed away when I was younger, but their deaths didn’t come as a shock to me. They had lived wonderful lives, grown old with the love of their life, and seen and done all they had wanted. Their deaths were peaceful and, in a way,
beautiful. They had gone to be with the Lord in the best way possible. But Karli’s death wasn’t like that. She was young, vibrant, and had at least 60 years of life ahead of her. I felt sick to my stomach. Why did you take her, Lord? I asked. Over the next few days I saw several posts on social media about the GCU community celebrating Karli’s life and the impact she had on her classmates and professors. It was so neat to see everyone rallying around this precious girl’s life. Some students even left a bouquet of flowers at the desk where she used to sit in one of her classes. They wrote a note that asked other students to please leave the flowers there because their dear classmate sat in that spot almost the entire semester. Seeing all this reminded me that only the Lord knows our time and only the Lord can offer hope when everything comes crashing down. Karli obviously made an impact in her community, an impact that will not soon be forgotten. Although Karli is now physically gone, she is forever in the minds and hearts of those who loved her. Daniel 3:17-18 is a perfect reminder of the Lord’s providence: “But even if he does not….” Even if the Lord does what seems unthinkable, harsh, and catastrophic, He knows what He is doing because He is sovereign over all. His ways are better than ours. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21b).
REMEMBER WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO BE EXCLUDED SO THAT YOU CAN HELP BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE IS INCLUDED. LISA FRIEDMAN
www.jenniferstamps.com
QUINOA SALAD WITH LIME ESSENTIAL OIL By Danielle Nesper Photos By Jessica Williams I don't know about you but once it starts to get hot here (Arizona summers are unbearable) I don't want to do a whole lot of cooking. Turn on the oven and heat up the whole house? No thank you! What we like to do in the Nesper house is make a couple meals and eat off them all week long. Less daily cooking for me (I'm tired enough as it is) and it also sets us up well to eat at home instead of go out to eat and spend more money than we want to on food. Cameron and I were newlyweds when I started making this recipe and we still love it to this day! It is an awesome recipe that you can do so much with! We use it as a snack with tortilla chips, we
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use it as a side dish, we add chicken to it, we put it on top of lettuce, put it in tacos... the options are endless! This recipe calls for lime juice, which is what I've used for years, but since I'm into essential oils now I thought how fun it would be to use lime essential oil instead! Young Living's Lime Vitality essential oil is ingestible and it's delicious. I don't recommend ingesting any other oils out there that aren't Young Living oils. Young Living's essential oils are 100% pure plant based oils and a lot of them are safe to ingest unlike other brands so be cautious about what oils you're using. If you're wanting to know more about
Young Living essential oils contact me anytime! I'm really happy with how this recipe turned out using the Lime Vitality oil and I'm going to do it this way from now on!
INGREDIENTS 2 cups uncooked quinoa 3 cups water ½ can diced jalapeños (optional) ½ onion 5 cloves garlic ½ green bell pepper 1 (15oz) can corn 1 (15oz) can black beans; rinsed ¼ cup cilantro; chopped 2 tomatoes THE SAUCE ¼ cup olive oil 1 Tbsp cumin 1 tsp salt 10 drops Young Living Lime Vitality Essential Oil (or the juice of 2 limes) DIRECTIONS Boil water and add quinoa. Cover and lower heat, simmer for 10-15 minutes or until water has boiled away. Don’t stir until it's completely cooked. Put cooked quinoa in a large bowl. Add all the other ingredients (except the sauce) and stir. Make the sauce mixture, pour over quinoa mixture and stir well. Serve fresh while it's warm or pop it into the fridge and serve it cold later! Enjoy!!
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ESSENTIAL OIL INFUSED RECIPES
BYÂ DANIELLE NESPER Do you want to have a few more easy recipes in your back pocket that incorporate essential oils? No problem! Here are a few more of my favorites that I recently made at a Mud & Mugs skincare party. These are easy and a great way to add in more essential oil goodness!
ORANGE BROWNIES WITH ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL INGREDIENTS 2 cups sugar 1 cup flour 2/3 cup cocoa ½ tsp salt ½ tsp baking powder 4 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2 tsp vanilla 10 drops Young Living Orange Vitality Essential Oil
THIS IS MY HOMEMADE BROWNIE RECIPE THAT I HAVE SOLELY USED FOR YEARS. JUST ADD ESSENTIAL OILS!
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add all ingredients into large bowl. Stir with whisk or use hand mixer to incorporate all ingredients. Add 10 drops orange essential oil and stir well. Spray 9x13 casserole dish, pour brownie mix into dish and put in the oven on the middle rack. Bake for 30-35 minutes checking it with a toothpick until it's to your liking. Let sit for 10 minutes, cut brownies and serve!
ORANGE OIL, AMONG OTHER POPULAR ANTIINFLAMMATORY OILS, HAS SHOWN THE GREATEST REDUCTION IN INFLAMMATION.
HOMEMADE THIN MINTS WITH PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL
INGREDIENTS 1 bag dark chocolate candy melts 1 box Late July Organic Classic Rich Crackers (Whole Foods) 10 drops Young Living Peppermint Vitality Essential oil
DIRECTIONS Place chocolate candy melts in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in 30 second intervals stirring in between each heating. Once fully melted add 10 drops peppermint essential oil; stir well. Dip crackers into chocolate, using a fork to pick it out of the chocolate and tap remaining extra chocolate off a little bit. Set on wax paper and let harden. Store in a cool dry place, refrigerator, or freezer. Voila it's that easy!
THIS OIL HAS GREAT ABILITIES TO RELIEVE PAIN RELATED TO MUSCLES & JOINTS, AS WELL AS HEADACHES & MIGRAINES.
HOT LIME SALSA WITH LIME ESSENTIAL OIL
INGREDIENTS 2 cans Rotel Original diced tomatoes with green chiles (mild instead of original if you don't want spicy) 1 tsp jalapeños (optional) 1/3 cup cilantro; chopped 1 tsp salt 1-3 drops Young Living Lime Vitality Essential Oil to your liking (or 1 Tbsp lime juice)
DIRECTIONS Add everything into a food processor, except lime essential oil, and pulse until it's at your desired consistency. Pour into serving bowl, add lime Essential Oil drops and stir well. Set some tortilla chips next to it and you're good to go!
AMONG MANY THINGS, LIME OIL CAN SUPPORT A HEALTHY IMMUNE FUNCTION AS WELL AS POSITIVELY AFFECT MOODS.
NOTHING BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER LIKE GOOD FOOD.
STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 30
WHAT IF I STUCK WITH IT? BY SARAH COSTA
“I’ll just do what I’ve done in the past.” “I just plan on eating better. You know, more veggies.” “I just need a good ab routine.” “All you need is to move and eat right, so I can do that on my own, right?” “I’m smart enough to figure this out on my own.” These are all thoughts I’ve had in the past about getting healthy, or to what I thought was healthy. I mean, I played sports in high-school and college, I ran through most of the beginning of our marriage. I know how to be healthy. I’ve always done it on my own. It’s the American way, after all. No. No, it’s really not. The big companies in the United States, the men like Carnegie, Edison, and Rockefeller, they had help. They knew their limits, and they were smart enough to surround themselves and create partnerships with people who got their vision. So, no. Doing it all on my own is not really the American Dream.
So, let me ask you this: Have you ever felt healthy before in life? Or at least felt like you were getting to what you think of as healthy? What was working for you? We’ve all found those one or two things we loved or at least got us results. And now let me go and ask it…Why isn’t that working for you now? Barring physical ailments that require medical attention, I wonder if we give up because we just get tired of it? We are usually doing it alone, after all. If we stop, no one else gets hurt. If we give up, we will still live. We were living before we started the last diet-cycle. But what if we weren’t? What if life now is so much better than it was, but we’ve lost sight of that and have no one to remind us? What if you do feel better, but something happens this week that brings back old-habits even though you know those habits will leave you feeling sluggish, bloated and depressed? How do we hang onto all of that in the midst of the stormy seasons of life? Community.
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Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of forming this little band of women warriors. We are not perfect. We go through the crazy seasons of life, the pregnancies, the holidays, the company who doesn’t support us, too. But the bond and LOVE these women have for one another is astounding. We share our struggles and our victories. We share our recipes and our triumph over those workouts. We encourage and hold accountable because we know, we do so much better TOGETHER. Someone is always there to cry with us, remind us of why we wanted our health back, and inspire us to fight for ourselves each day. And that, to me, is one of the most beautiful things. There is just something doing the hard things together. “Two are better than one, for if the one falls, the other will pick him up.” This is the bond we share. And I think a group is even better than two, because there is something in each life we all relate to. We all need that love. We all need that encouragement. If you want
But #forthelove can we stop pretending we are alone in it? Can we stop thinking that we are better off by ourselves? to get in my group for that type of love, awesome!! I want you there. If you want to find a partner and form that relationship and inspire one another that way: go for it!! If you want to form your own group of friends, do it! But #forthelove can we stop pretending we are alone in it? Can we stop thinking that we are better off by ourselves? Can we be humble enough to say “hey, I need help! I need encouragement!” Can we start reaching out of our own, carefully protected circle and offering that love to others? That’s where the change happens. That’s where strength is formed. That’s where a healthy life really starts.
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Special Ministries: My Community
By Amy Whitehouse Like every Sunday morning, I make my way to room 208 at our church. I open the door to the low-lit spacious room and hear greetings: “Hi, Miss Amy, will you play with me?” “Miss Amy. Come over here.” And then there are lots of hugs. Katie leaps over assorted toys on the floor and throws herself into my arms. “I like you. See my new dress? I picked it out myself.” Katie is 21. She likes to bear-hug for several minutes at a time; I hang on until I’m perspiring. Miss Rachel, the lead volunteer, opens her arms wide and says, as always, “I’m so happy to see you here.” Steven, 11, shyly shuffles over clearly wanting a hug. We both seem relieved that the other one is here today. I quickly scan the room to see who might need attention. There is Gabrielle, 10, on the floor with the electronic musical toy she loves. There is Dave, aged 43, staring into space. There are Kevin and Josiah
almost getting along in the ball pit. Through the large glass window across the room I spy Whitney in the Quiet Room reading a storybook. Mabel is throwing Mardi Gras necklaces in the air as if they were lariats and she a cowboy. Johnnie sits on the beanbag with tears in his eyes. On the way to Dave, I speak to Johnnie. “Hey, Johnnie! It’s so good to see you.” “Not good to see you,” the little 8 year-old says in reply. “Okay, I’ll come back to check on you.” I make my way across the carpet strewn with balls, games, and plastic animals. Dave is still staring into space. “Hey, Dave!” He grunts in reply. Though there is a special needs class for adults in the adjoining room, Dave does better with us. He is nonverbal but can be quite loud with groans and other noises. Sometimes the little ones are scared of him. “Would you like to play cards?” I ask. Dave stares into my face as if he can’t see me. He turns away from me, so I assume no cards right now.
There are lots of hugs. Katie leaps over assorted toys on the floor and throws herself into my arms. “I like you. See my new dress? I picked it out myself.” Katie is 21. She likes to bearhug for several minutes at a time; I hang on until I’m perspiring.
STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 33
I hear squealing and see that Mabel is pinching Mikey. Again. I hop over to this little pair. “No pinching, Mabel. No pinching,” I say. She pinches me hard on the arm. Later she will cuddle with me during the lesson contentedly for a good ten minutes. “I need to go to the bathroom,” Mikey says. I look for an adult male to take him but they are all busy with other kids. “Okay, let’s go,” I say, helping him up off the floor and holding his hand as he limps toward the bathroom. Mikey is 6 and has braces on his legs but needs a hand to walk on his own. Otherwise he crawls. We get to the bathroom and I assume he needs to sit in order to “go” since he can’t stand well even if I’m holding him up. I set him up on the potty, assuming he knows what to do next. It’s always a mistake to assume anything. A strong stream of urine hits my new jeans. I’m wet, his pants are wet, but he’s successfully gone to the bathroom. We wash hands and head out to find clean pants. I can’t figure out how to remove Mikey’s leg braces, so I inch down the wet pants little by little over the braces until I can remove them. Now I am sweating and huffing with the effort. I take the clean dry jeans and slowly push the fabric little by little up over the braces and his little knobby knees. He quietly waits for me to finish. It’s time for the lesson so we make our way over to the semi-circle of tiny lime-green chairs. Mikey wants to sit on the floor and Mabel wants to sit in my lap. Suddenly she grabs the glasses off my face and hurls them across the room. The teacher begins, “Would anyone like to start us with prayer?” Johnnie raises his hand. “It’s my birthday.” He insists that it’s his birthday every few weeks. He’s been feuding today with Kyle, an 11-year-old who was recently adopted. Kyle loudly and clearly says, “I’m NOT singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him again.” Tommy, 24, happily starts singing “Happy Birthday,” and everyone joins in. Everybody except Kyle. Johnnie looks as satisfied as Kyle looks angry. Once again the teacher asks for prayer. Johnnie mumbles a word and pauses, says another word, and takes another long pause. The teacher thanks him. After the lesson it’s snack time. Tommy downs four cupcakes before I can even notice. Katie asks for seconds, then thirds. This is always hard for the ones with feeding tubes or severely limited diets since they can’t have snacks. Because Mikey is one with a feeding tube, I take him to the bowling alley in the Quiet Room. I note the irony that the bowling alley is in the Quiet Room. We do a zig-zag dance across the room as he veers one way and then the other while I hang onto his hand. I’m happy to help Mikey; he has trouble walking and talking and keeping his saliva in his mouth. I am 63 and starting to trip and lose my balance. We make a great team. This is Special Ministries. I love my community.
STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 35
CREATING COMMUNITY BY KATE WILLIAMS We were created for community. For fellowship. We cannot fulfill the purpose God has given to us in our lives on our own. But, what happens when you don’t feel as though you have a community? Yes, we all live by neighbors, go to school or work or church together, but it seems more and more today that we walk around solitary amongst a crowd. We don’t quite feel like we fit in, we wonder if someone will like us for us, and yet the desire burning in each of our hearts is for those personal relationships. What do you do then, when your life changes every couple of years like ours? You pick up your life, move on to the next place and have to start that community all over again. And again. And again. Are you drained? Are you exhausted? Do you not know where to start? I’ve been there. However, there is something you can do. You can create the community that you desire. You can become vulnerable, strip your pride, and branch out. Is it hard? Oh yea! But, so rewarding when you find that niche. Maybe that means baking some cookies and actually going around the neighborhood and talking
to those you live near, get to know them and their kids. Maybe it means actually picking up the phone to talk with a friend and being intentional in pursuit of relationship. Or, maybe it means creating a community on social media and connecting with them directly each day. Yes, I just said social media. I know that sounds like the opposite of community to some. But, when used in the right way that could not be farther from the truth. There are people out there, just like you, with the same interests. You just have to start that conversation, water it, nurture it and pursue relationship in order to form a community. I have been able to do just that and I can say after years of prayer and wondering where the Lord wanted me to be that the community we have created is stronger and closer than ever before. And I could not be more thankful. But, it takes work and it takes you stepping out first and pursuing relationship and creating the community you desire.
THEN, TRUSTING GOD WITH THE REST.
LIFE WAS MEANT FOR GOOD FRIENDS AND GREAT ADVENTURES
A RESTAURANT REVIEW IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Shake Shack BY CHRISTINE CRAM Whenever my husband and I go on dates, we tend to go to the same places. Anyone else like us? I recently suggested to him that we try new places since we live near a TON of restaurants. Recently, we went on a date and tried a new place for us. We went to a restaurant called Shake Shack. I had the shackburger with an order of cheese fries and a root beer. The fries are crinkle fries that are to die for honestly. Covered with delicious melted cheese and you have found a match made in heaven. I want them STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 37
right now just thinking about them. My hubby had the BBQburger. That one was a special. He also had cheese fries with a coke. My root beer was on tap and man, that’s the way to go. Crisp and just perfect. Their burgers have no hormones and no antibiotics in them. Even their potato buns are non-GMO. I could taste the difference for sure. So good.
"I mean, hello…”shake” is in their name so I felt like we needed to get a shake." The atmosphere was very comfortable and casual which we like. I kept thinking we could bring our kids here and I would not feel bad about them being loud. The restaurant seemed very accommodating for kids of all ages. I know my daughter would go crazy over their hot dogs, fries, and ice cream. She would basically be in heaven.
We kept going back and forth on dessert. I mean, hello…”shake” is in their name so I felt like we needed to get a shake. They have this dessert called concretes that sound like blizzards. I was also looking at those. I basically wanted to try it all. The manager was so nice. She came over to each table asking if she could help in any way. She came to our table and I asked her about the desserts and which one she would recommend. One thing to note – even though this is a national chain, each location often partners with local farmers or bakeries to create something unique to the area. The manager talked about the CamelShack concrete. Vanilla custard, salted caramel sauce, and a slice of The Bakery Phx banana cream pie. I know. I mean…what? Still had no idea what I was gonna try. As my hubby and I walked up to the place to order dessert, the manager comes out with the CamelShack and two spoons. She blessed us with one on the house. It was SO GOOD. If you are a banana fan go get one. You will not regret it. I’m so glad we ventured out and tried a new place in our community. We loved the Shake Shack and will for sure go back. A great burger place to take the whole family to. Step out and discover all the places that are near you! I’m so glad we did. You never know what you are going to find.
Community At It's Best By Courtney Bareman
The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
It is easy to like the idea of something. I like the idea of camping, but when push comes to shove, I prefer a nice hotel room. I love the idea of love, and I think most people do- I think that is why the whole Romantic Comedy genre was created. But stepping into love and relationships is a totally different experience, than just admiring with wide eyes from the sidelines. And such is the case for community. Engaging in community requires removing the rose-colored glasses and rolling up your sleeves. I believe we were created to live in community. The tricky thing is that communities are made up of people. People, who at their best are thriving and healthy, but imperfect. And hopefully, your community is made up of people at their best. So we need to let go of any ideals or too-high expectations in order to fully engage and take part in one of the greatest blessings life has to offer. Letting go of perfect and embracing healthy. Community, like motherhood, is so much different than I expected. I say things I never thought I would say, do things I never thought I would do, and it is not nearly as glamourous as I had imagined. Living in community is grieving together, helping carry burdens, and sitting STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 39
together in the midst of pain. Living in community is celebrating together, toasting and clinging glasses together- hopeful, excited, and thankful. Celebrating and mourning and everything inbetween, choosing to live daily life in a way where you are known, seen, heard, and valued. The friendships that come from living a life in community can be priceless and life-giving. That isÂ
19
“For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” not to say that they are always easy. Difficult, awkward conversations are needed occasionally in order to keep things moving in the right direction or address an issue. There is a level of discomfort that many people feel having these kinds of honest discussions, they are uncomfortable to say the least, but relationships are worth wading through the junk in order to make it to the other side. Listening and sharing in order to restore health and hope and to ease the hurt. This is the part of living life in community that often doesn’t make the fantasy in our minds. We can easily imagine the meals eaten together, nights spent around a bonfire, but we don’t think about both sides of the deal. When we say ‘yes,’ we say yes to it all. We cannot pick and choose- only the good and the easy, hold anything that is painful or
awkward, please. It doesn’t work like that. But this is where we get to practice all the things we know in our heads about bravery and love. We get to show up, bringing our whole self and choosing to make room for those we are in close relationship with. We choose to let ourselves be fully seen and known, imperfections and all. And we find love and acceptance in a healthy community. And then we offer that same, powerful gift in return. It is a little bit like forgiveness, this is not a one-time decision. This is a daily, sometimes hourly, decision to show up and engage. To live a life bigger than yourself. The idea of community reminds me of the Rudyard Kipling quote from the Jungle Book, “For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” The pack takes care of the wolves and the wolf takes care of the pack. No one is in it for their personal gain or agenda, instead there is recognition that we are better together than apart. The community thrives because of the people and the people thrive because of community. Everyone wins and is better for it. That is community at its best.
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COMMUNITY BY DESIGN By Mackenzie Collier
Interior design is intrinsically rooted in
journeys, telling their unique stories to
community. Hear me out. As a designer,
the people who enter.
my job begins by getting to know people
STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 42
on a personal level, to understand their
In the public sphere, our goal is to design
needs, and how they use their space day
spaces that are accessible, safe, and
to day so we can deliver a functional
serve as a place where people can
design that supports their lifestyles. I am
coalesce and create shared meaning. I
invited into my community members’
love getting to design communal spaces
most sacred and intimate of spaces,
where all kinds of life happen—where
where their lives unfold—where couples
someone might meet their soulmate or
grow together, babies learn to walk and
get engaged, celebrate a birthday with
talk, milestones are celebrated. I learn
dear friends, or share a meal—or office
who they are as people, about their
environments where we can make going
travels, what music inspires them, who or
to work a little more joyful or healthy. The
what they are most passionate about,
Mackenzie Collier Interiors offices, too,
and I get the opportunity to help them
are saturated in community. My team is
curate a space that reflects their life
comprised of six wonderful women who
hail from around the country, and our downtown
my personal support systems, like the beautiful fusion
Phoenix headquarters is part of a larger co-working
bomb of feminine energy that is the NINE community.
space, a sort of micro-community of its own where
There is nothing more therapeutic than being part of a
we’ve cultivated relationships with various working
diverse group of women who accept and support each
professionals, city planners, and historic neighborhood
other, learning from powerhouse women of all ages
preservationists—even the mayor pops in from time to
and backgrounds and connecting around our shared
time.
experiences, being able to bounce ideas off them, strengthen each other through support, and just have
By now, I’ve come to understand community is
fun.
personal and essential, especially for a small business. Being connected provides opportunity; it gives us a
“Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other
chance to listen to one another, to learn, to grow, to
women who have got her back.”
build something together that benefits everyone. As a small, independent business owner, I depend on people
I believe now more than ever is a time to come
within my community investing locally, and in turn, I
together with a spirit of cooperation and
feel compelled to recirculate that support, with the
understanding, to unify and support each other so we
hope that it will help everyone prosper. Utilizing local
can progress. It is critical it is to show up for one
vendors, artisans, businesses, and goods bolsters our
another every single day. Be a mentor. Be a friend. Be
community economically, and as a bonus, it makes our
a defender, a teacher, a listener. Instead of judging,
designs one of a kind. It’s this kind of neighborly
accept. Instead of competing, empower. Instead of
support that helps build a sustainable local
comparing, connect. Our power is boundless and our
ecosystem. You get back what you put in.
collective impact moves mountains.
I think it was Galileo who said, “I have never met a man
Mackenzie is the owner of Mackenzie Collier Interiors, a
so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him.”
full-service residential and commercial interior design
There is always something to be gained from
team in the heart of downtown Phoenix.
connecting with people, so I do it constantly, both in and out of the office. I don’t know where I’d be without
"Our power is boundless and our collective impact moves mountains." MACKENZIE COLLIER
STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 45
Why You Need A Circle Of Security BY RACHEL DEITRICK
Throughout each season in life having safe,
having an outside view. Sometimes we are blinded to our
secure community is vital. It is so important
own problems because we are seeing it only through our
to develop strong friendships and maintain
own eyes. Having multiple outside perspectives can allow
them as you continue on your journey. We all know it is good to socialize and build relationships throughout life, but having trustworthy community is more important than you think. There’s a lot more to it than just hanging out and having fun with friends. Here are a few reasons why you should have a community or groups of different communities that you can trust.
Accountability. Having people you can trust in your life allows you to be held accountable for your decisions and actions. If you do not have people in your life to hold you accountable you are left trying to hold yourself accountable on your own strength which isn’t always easy. I would not be where I am at today if I didn’t have trustworthy friends who were holding me accountable to following my dreams and goals.
Perspective. Without having others’ perspective on your situations, you are only seeing the inside perspective versus
you to see your situation from a bird's eye view, giving you clarity and guidance.
Unity. We were created for healthy, thriving relationships. Lack of community leads to isolation and we were never designed to go through life alone. Isolation can lead to self idolatry, pride, loneliness, negative mindsets, depression, and so forth. We are made for relationships and all have the desire to be loved and accepted. Let others love you.
Friendship. This reason might be a no-brainer but we all need to learn how to be a good friend, especially before entering a serious relationship. If you don’t know how to be a good friend while you are single, how will you be a good spouse? The foundation of every good relationship is friendship. Friendships allow us to grow in intimacy, learn to communicate, be challenged, corrected, develop patience, and love others.
Growth. Growing together through the good seasons as
well as the bad allow you to become closer and stronger. Learning and experiencing different stages of life with others allows you to get through anything together. We continually grow as individuals and having a community to grow with makes it easier and more enjoyable.
Healing. Sometimes having community is simply the best way to heal. Whether you are suffering physically or emotionally, being surrounded by community can allow you to get your mind off of your problems and to focus on the joys in life. Being around others can bring a simple smile to your face which is healing in itself.
Who is in your circle of security? Do you have a strong community where you feel safe and accepted? Community is one of the most important things we need in life because we were created for it. Aside from having just one community group, it is also good to have multiple communities. I currently have communities through family, work, church, old friends, older women who are mother figures, and a few online communities as well that I have found much encouragement and support through. I have just completed a three-month online mentorship program that consisted of about 25 women from all over - anywhere from Chicago to California. Our weekly conference calls allowed us to share our victories, discuss various topics, and pray. We each experienced unity, growth, and healing, and were able to hold each other accountable, give new perspectives, and become friends.
Through each of these communities, I have developed in several ways that have allowed me to become the person I am today. Community is such a blessing that should never be taken for granted. Being surrounded by the right people is a gift, a joy, and an expression of love.
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DEAR
COMMUNITY JUNE 2017
SD WRITERS I started writing these letters to you each month, so you would feel and know how much I truly honor what you write every month. It's not lost on me that you could be doing one thousand other things, but instead, you choose to write for this magazine, in hopes of encouraging women everywhere from all backgrounds, all walks of life- and for that, I thank you. Even more, I thank you for becoming a huge part of MY community. There was a day not long ago, that I thought my circle of friends would never be the same. Where I wondered if it was truly possible to have a band of women who believe in me, support me, and have my back- through everything. That's you. You will never understand to what extent I am grateful for how you have been intricately placed into my life. Part of my tribe, my heart, my friends. You have made a difference in my life, more than you will ever know. Thank you! Thank you for being there and believing in me, when even I was doubtful. I treasure this community with all of my heart, and you are a huge part of that.
o x s s E J Love,
Bring It In.
Virtual hugs to say THANKS!.
Jessica Williams, Editor in Chief Jennifer Stamps, Associate Editor Nicole Thompson, Publicist Sarah Humphrey, Creative Consultant
Contributing Writers In This Issue Amy Whitehouse Cassidy Rich Christine Cram Courtney Bareman Danielle Nesper Esther Gallagher Jessica Williams Kate Williams Mackenzie Collier Maria Derminio Rachel Deitrick Rachel Schroeder Sarah Costa Sarah Humphrey Tara Chatterton
Special Thanks AFC Chiropractic Craig Murray Photography Dani Homemaker Honeybook Jay & Jess Photography Kym Ventola Photography MacKenzie Collier Interiors Nine Retreat Nu Skin Sarah Costa, Beachbody Coach STAMPS & Co.
EDITORIAL OFFICES Located in sunny Scottsdale, AZ Stellar Day Magazine is published by Issuu and created in Canva. www.stellardaymagazine.com
Stellar Day
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Dani Homemaker Young Living Consultant
EDITOR'S NOTE I think community is imperative to our health and well being. There is nothing quite like feeling like you belong, are needed, loved and a part of something bigger than yourself. To have people to fall back on when times are tough is priceless. But people aren't perfect and our ideals that make up what community SHOULD be often get in the way. It's hard. We see our friends' true colors. We don't feel cared for. We feel excluded. It's messy. And the enemy wants to do whatever he can to drive a wedge between your heart and community you've been placed in. I know because I've been there. Thankfully, I believe that God didn't design us to go through this life alone. And while finding your sweet spot within your community might take time, it IS going to be worth it. I challenge you: Look around. Who is in front of you right now? Who keeps coming back into your picture and your sphere? It's likely those who you wouldn't have once considered. BUT, press into that if you feel led. Often our community needs to be created organically and with those who WANT to be there. If you feel like you are trying way too hard, you likely are. And it doesn't need to be that way. Community should be a beautiful giving and taking, a dance of sorts, that allows each member to feel useful, loved, and a part of something much bigger than themselves. It's not ever going to be perfect. But it is going to be worth the fight. Jessica Williams Editor-in-chief