It takes a village to raise a child…

Apparently out of an African proverb we have the idea that ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’  I love the idea.  As a parent I have come to learn there is richness in what I have to offer my children, particularly in team with Jennie.  Yet, how much more wealth, wisdom and beauty flows from living in community with others?

I live within a community of Jesus followers.  Over quite a number of years I have come to realise the wonders and delights of this journey.  We share our joys and our tragedies.  Our victories and our defeats.  Our learning and our wisdom.  Our ‘wow’ moments and insights gained over years.  Our village has a culture of love, respect, mutuality, grace and forgiveness amongst many other unwritten cultural understandings that define our village.  I hope the inquisitive eyes of our younger ones learn wonders and delights from this village.

But life isn’t always parsley, thyme, rosemary and sage.  Journeying with a village can be challenging.  Sometimes our village needs to decide how to do things or how to move forward.  It would come as no surprise that sometimes not everyone agrees!  This is where an often-overlooked characteristic of the village emerges.  Forbearance.  The ability to say, “No. I think you’re wrong,” or “I disagree” but I choose to remain a part of the village.  We choose to ‘include’ others, even though we may not be the same as them.  I read recently from Mia Carella that “inclusion isn’t just inviting someone to sit at your table.  It’s believing they belong there.”

Our village is also a part of a larger village.  We choose to live in that village.  We participate, learn and grow in that village too.  In fact, this weekend our village is putting on an event with our larger village.  Does it sound silly we are building and racing billy carts together?  Not at all.  It takes a village to raise a child.  Prayerfully all belong.