Imagine those first day of school nerves walking into a classroom of people you will spend the next year with, now apply that to spending the next six months living, eating, sleeping, worshipping, and everything else with those people. That feeling would be a reflection of how I felt walking into the AIM base in Gainesville on Jan. 3, to start living in our COVID bubble. So, here are 5 (but nowhere near the only 5) things the Lord has shown me at Training Camp while living in the bubble:
1. Community
Jesus lived in community while on Earth. So, what a blessing and gift from the Lord it has been to live in community these past four days and to get to continue this to grow in this community for the next six months. Day one we learned about the places where we connect with God, they are the cave, the table, and the road. These places could be their own post, but looking into the table, we look at community. The Lord is always there but when we sit at the table with our brothers and sisters in Christ and invite Him in intentionally relationships grow.
2. Comfort
Let it go. Be prepared to let it go. The Lord calls us to be uncomfortable when it comes to pursuing a relationship with him. This lack of comfort leaves room to grow, where we will lack the Lord will be able to fill us up.
3. Openness
It’s time to be open because a closed mindset will not give you a place to grow. The Lord wants a relationship with us, He wants us to be open to having radical dependence on Him. The only way to give this radical dependence is to understand that you have to be open to the voice of the Holy Spirit and what He is asking of you.
4. Rest
No guarantee it will be the best sleep of your life on the floor of a tiled room. But it will be a memorable and much needed sleep. Physical rest is needed but so is spiritual; the need to take a moment and rest in the Lord. This is the cave. The cave is your quiet place with the Lord, the opportunity to rest in His word and connect. The cave is something I am learning to improve on, but I am seeing His grace when I fall short in spending time in the cave.
5. Boldness
Give yourself the opportunity to be interruptible by God in the moment. The road is a place of mission and risk. Be bold to step outside your place of comfort and give yourself to the Lord for His purpose and plan on the road. Allow yourself to be bold when you do not at first step into His plan and allow yourself grace to recognize a mistake and go back to the Lord.
Take time to look in your life and see where the Lord is teaching you lessons daily.
LOOK AT THIS SQUAD!!!!
Also there might be a podcast in the works, so be looking out.
You’re getting a taste of what Benedictine life in community has been for me!