Community

 Everyone says it takes a village to raise kids.  We live that everyday at FCE.  We have a very supportive community within the brick and mortar of our school.  We also have strong partnerships within the community and with our parents.  There are many things that happen in schools that would not be possible without the support of this community.  Our community took a huge hit one year ago today, when we lost Mrs. O'Rourke.  The relationships she built are what we continually seek in each other, today.  

Kellie was that friend that said what she had on the tip of her tongue.  Sometimes we called it tough love, sometimes it felt harsh, but always we knew it came from love.  Thessalonians 5:12-18 tells us:

Who are your people?  God puts people on your path to help and warn you when you need corrected.  My meditation this morning was just that.  A reminder of her friendship and love that was always honest and sincere.  She taught me the ins and outs of FCE, the people, the processes, and always had my back.  This morning's readings had me reflecting on my people. To seek relationships with those that will warn me of my bad habits.  To remind me that we have the ability and responsibility to warn each other.  

The community of Christ are often found in those right around you.  Seek them in all you do.  Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. Reproof in the bible is correcting one another through conviction, to lead them to repentance, growth, and righteousness.  Calling each other out, when needed, and an attitude of humility in the face of this correction. 

The heaviness is real without Kellie.  When a true friend and mentor die unexpectedly, it takes a village to support one another.  Her words have not left the hallways, her reminders are all around us, and today's reading fit perfectly for us to remember who our community is and what is our responsibility. 

Tomorrow, we meet as a staff for PD on MLK, JR. Day.  A day that is remembered for love, light, justice, nonviolence, and perseverance.  There is a quote that will always stick with me, not from his I have a dream speech, but from his speech in Selma that connects his central theme: 

Friends, we cannot stay silent, we have a responsibility to call each other out, to warn of our behaviors, spread the light of Christ, and to check our own lives.  Matthew 7:5 tells us to take the log out of our own eye before we take the spec out of your brother's eye.  Pray for discernment and words to share with your community.  Be the example to those around you and recognize why God has put the people in your life, right now, and how they are helping you.  

There is no doubt why Kellie was in so many of our lives.  She was our light, our constant reminder to do the right thing, and to have the hard conversations.  She had the courage I pray I can have to lead our building. I miss her deeply and had the most beautiful reminder on Friday that she is right where Jesus called her.  The light was shining on Tim and Kellie's house, full of memories, and a new grandbaby that will carry her legacy. 

No matter where your place of work is, find your people.  Find the ones that will warn you of bad habits, demonstrate service, speak truth, ground you, lead with ethics, live by faith, connect you to worship, and love.  These are my current people and I am so thankful for them all.  I am thankful for this gift of community and I pray that I am in your circle in some way or another.  Fighting the good fight and never staying quiet in moments of conviction. 

Just Love,

Kirsten