Sharing Everything in Common

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
- Acts 2:44-47

What a week.

I have seen more comments on Facebook than I can count about building an ark. Noah has been a forerunner of conversation as the rain has pounded Atlanta. (So has Kanye West, superimposed over flood photos to say, "I'ma gonna let you finish raining Atlanta, but New Orleans had a bigger flood." Those of you who get it, you get it.) It has come down, hard and steady, rising fast. Many of our friends and neighbors have disaster situations at home. I keep hearing new stories.

Other things have been happening too. I co-chaired a huge teachers luncheon at our school the day after we were out for rain damage. It had been planned since the spring, but needless to say, none of us were expecting that we might be out of school in September for flooding! There were a lot of "roll with the changes" happening that day, and a lot of work to be done.

Also, somewhere this week, I celebrated my birthday. I can say it that way, because it happened on more than one day. There were several celebrations and many well wishes. It was a birthday to remember - not because of an age I turned, but because of the fun it has been.

So, here at the end of the week, I look back and I can see the highs and lows all mixed in together. It has been a melting pot week of tragedy, overflowing love, celebration, needs, gratitude, and more. Interestingly, they have all coincided and crashed into one another in such beautiful ways.

My friends who are flood victims are telling me that they are overwhelmed - not only with their situations at home - but with the overwhelming show of support and generous giving of people all around them. There are so many offers for help, actually, that many of them can't even respond or give people a job yet. What a gift! To need help and receive it. Boxes, meals, hands - all available for the taking. So many people saying, "Put me to work! Give me a job! Let me help!" Sharing what they can give - taking what can be offered. Sharing everything in common.

At the teacher's luncheon, so many people brought delicious dishes, just to say thank you to those who teach our children. No special reason - just gratitude. Warm homemade cake was brought straight from the oven and flipped out on site. Cookies iced by hand to look like our school mascot. Delicious salads, cole slaw, desserts, drinks, bread, bbq… a literal smorgasbord of food as an offering. When I think of all the time it took to put that meal together, I am humbled. What is more traditional (and more spiritual) than sharing food? To say thank you, to say I can help, to say I am sorry for your loss… Sharing everything in common.

As for my birthday? I have been showered with such love. Anyone who knows me knows I love birthdays. Every year it is something I look so forward to celebrating! Some people make fun of me for being an adult "so into my birthday." But there is truly another level - I am so very grateful to have made it another year. I am so glad for every birthday I have the chance to celebrate. This week I have been fed so well - with food and conversation and friendship - that my heart might as well pop from overflowing love. I have eaten more sweets than I've had all summer. I've be toasted and surprised and sung to and called and emailed and Facebooked and hugged and kissed and showered with gifts. I will count it as such a special birthday this year. I have been savoring each memory all morning. Sharing everything in common.

I think what this week has given me is a very full sense of what it means to be in community. I do not want to imagine what it would be like to have no one to help you when disaster strikes… when there is work to be done… when there is a need… when there is a celebration that arises on the calendar. I know that community - sharing in common - is the best gift I have received and born witness to this week.

I have a story that I think paints this picture well. I shared this in an Apple a few years back, but I think of it all the time, and it always brings tears to my eyes. We were visiting our dear friends Pepi and Barbara and their kids and we were gathering around their table for dinner. The kids were trying to find spots and we were trying to squeeze in extra chairs so the eight of us could sit together. Someone said, "We don't have enough room." It wasn't even a complaint - just a statement as they wiggled into spots. I'll never forget that Barbara looked at me and said, "Isn't it wonderful when there is not enough room at the table?"

I try to remember this when I am feeling crowded or overwhelmed. I try to see it as the gift it is. When there is so much love - I try to see it as overflowing, not overwhelming. I think of how good it is to share food, work, conversation, and love. I think of all those faces who really are there to help, who love you and want to see the best for you.

What more could we ask for, than to not go alone, whether into darkness or light?

I am thankful for a whole week of hands extended. Sharing everything bad, everything good, in common.

Amen and amen.

"A family in my sister's neighborhood was recently stricken with a…tragedy… When Catherine told me this, I could only say, shocked, 'Dear God, that family needs grace.' She replied firmly, 'That family needs CASSEROLES,' and then proceeded to organize the entire neighborhood into bringing the family dinner, in shifts, every single night, for an entire year. I do not know if my sister fully realizes that this IS grace."
- Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

In Wisdom,
Brandi Calhoun Diamond