Utopian Community

I have a dream. I am debating if it is unrealistic for today’s American culture and time, but it surely is something I wish for. I have been thinking more about community and what that may look like in the Church.

Though I feel that there is surely more of a sense of community and unity in the church, than let’s say your neighborhood; I still see it lacking.

What would it look like to have the same unity and sense of community during the days where people ate, and raised barns together? This society seemed to really weigh in on everyone as an integral part working together and profiting as one. We have to be realistic and take into account the different variables such as population and logistics. I honestly would say that I feel that even so; a small sect of people within an organization such as a church community, even today, can come close to the days where people worked together as one.

Unfortunately, I don’t see this happening. I think a lot of it relates to the fact that we are so involved with growing the church. We set goals but possibly don’t follow through. The problem which lies is that not one person nor ten can make the community ‘Utopian’, or lack of a better term, perfectly unified. It takes a piece of everyone, knowing that it is their community, their church, realizing that what they may add or offer affects the entire group.

I pray for a stronger sense of community and unity among not only my church, but also others alike; that seek to spread God’s glory.

The Crew

A group of us have been meeting once every other month to hang out and catch up. This group of friends are folks that I spent time with as neighbors in college. We all could not be more different.

The Artist, Marketing consultant, Realtor, Salesman, and a Federal Cellular Consultant. So what do we have in common? We all have great relationships with one another. I’ve known these friends for more than eight years. We have enjoyed so many memories in the past. Now, we have started to hang out again.

After a great time during the day at Camden Yards, I met up with all of them at ‘Don Pablos’ for happy hour. Even though we meet once every two months, it gives us tons to talk about. Usually were talking about relationships, old times, or for me yesterday, a conversation on Religion.

Last night coincidently I ran into a familiar person. It was another neighbor from our college days that lived right next to us. I haven’t seen her in six years. This meeting got me thinking. How cool would it be to slowly make our bi-monthly meetings into network meetings. What would it look like for us to invite other Salisbury grads to our group?

I don’t know what is in store for our group, a k a ‘The Crew’. But I will say that I look forward to the times together. If at some point we recruit more fellow alumni or keep it to our elite few, we will surely be consumed with laughs and good times. Here’s one for my fellow ‘Ex-Monkey Hut’ dwellers!

Spring Foward

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoy the season of spring. There is no question that I would say it is easily my most favorite season. When I think of Spring, I think of new beginnings, barbeques, and the smell of freshly cut grass. It is a time where the weather progresses to warm up and new life sprouts and blooms.

This year I noticed the time change more than ever. The fact that we have light longer is such a blessing to me. Normally after a long day at work I get to enjoy the sun setting on my commute home. Around this time and time to come I have been enjoying nature’s light source longer.

What a great time of year; recently I have felt some parallels to the changing season and the way I have recently been seeing things. So strange to not notice things in the past that may have been dormant, but now seem to be more lively. It’s different in a good way. I am curious to see what this season has in store for me this year.

Payoff

Today I still have been having this new constant strain and or pessimistic feeling holding me back. Ever since I was a kid I have wanted to own my own business, or the aspirations be someone important. These past couple years I have gotten glimpses of what this may look like, but haven’t yet pieced them together. I guess ultimately I seek to be financially stable so I can be in the position to properly support a future family. Now, I still seek this but want this goal to mirror God’s calling for me. What I have taken from this so far, is investing. I purchased my house a little over two years ago and now feel I need to be pursuing more.

A couple days ago I wrote my final check for my student loans. I never expected to have already been in the position to payoff my entire undergrad, and the post grad loans. Friday, I sold my car and had the ability to completely pay off that liability.

What this has told me is that the timing could not be better to take a risk. My good friend and realtor called me up the other day. A while back, I specifically told him that I currently wasn’t actively pursuing another real estate investment, but if he found something spectacular to let me know. Guess what, he found something. I have looked at many homes with him, and liked a few. Shoot I even put an offer in on one, but this one is the best yet. The scary part for me is that I know that if I want the place, it’s mine. My friend happens to be the listing agent, so the ball is totally in my court.

Now the pressure and reluctance continues to set in. I don’t get why I am timid about this decision. I just turned twenty eight years old, and am in the financial position to take a risk. For once I am a little scared. There is something truly humbling about seeing the true value loan estimate over thirty years on a mortgage. Now I may be trying two.

Congratulations!

Mark & Missy Stephenson