For the last couple of weeks, we have been examining the meaning of community, and how to “create space” for each other. There are definite benefits for ourselves and others in pursuing fellowship and a feeling of community that goes beyond simply existing alongside each other. But those benefits often are not realized unless we are very deliberately looking for them and fostering their development.

Often we have a tendency to ignore or forget the people in our community whose impact on our lives we cannot see on a daily basis. How often do we think about our civic leaders, business owners, veterans, people who are homeless, children in foster care or still living with daily abuse or neglect, those in prison, people living with disabilities or chronic health problems, the elderly, those who have lost loved ones, and those who are lonely?

While we may enjoy our comfortable friend groups, and naturally spend time with family and neighbors, there are others in our community who are considered to be on the “fringes of society.” Are we tempted to not interact with them? Why is that? It is all too easy to live by the principle of “out of sight, out of mind.” But what are we missing by not connecting with people who are out of our daily line of sight, and not on our minds? What are they missing because we are not connecting with them?

I am not naïve enough to think that we can connect with every single person in our community. But I’m guessing most of us have the capacity to do more than we are currently doing. Lately, I have been going out of my way to deliberately connect with new people, especially those who many would consider to be on the “fringes” of my community.  I have been incredibly blessed to create friendships with a couple of people who are temporarily homeless, inviting them to our home for a meal, bringing them along on family outings, and receiving texts from them letting me know they’re praying for me. Watching my family embrace them and pray for and with them has been a priceless gift. I am learning to be more generous with my time, talents, material possessions, and financial resources.

All around me, I’m beginning to connect with others who are reaching out and deliberately creating community with those who would otherwise not be readily included. One family has purchased a home and created housing opportunities (along with support and accountability) for women in transition. Another individual uses his time off to “hang out” with a person with significant disabilities to provide respite for his family. Over the years, he has become family. In schools, students are agreeing to be mentors for students with disabilities, and are not only helping those individuals navigate the academic environment, but they are also being and gaining friends. Some fight for justice on behalf of those who have no voice, or provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities or other unique needs. Others provide free or low-cost construction, plumbing, electrical, dental, medical, legal, or other assistance for those who could not otherwise afford it. Some feed the hungry. Others provide blankets, coats, and shoes for people who are homeless.

I’d love to hear about the ways you are deliberately creating community in your area. If this is a new concept, I encourage you to look for ways to reach out to others to meet some of the needs around you. I promise that you’ll likely gain more than you give, and in doing so, will make the world a better place for all of us!

I have some possessions in my home which simply don't have their own space. Papers have accumulated in piles because they don't quite seem to fit the files I set up long ago, and are too important to be thrown away or shredded. My storage room still contains boxes from my last move, with items that I haven't taken time to put away or to set out to use or to decorate our home. Although I've tucked these papers and objects into less-obvious places in my house, they are accumulating in a state of semi-controlled chaos until I have time to assign a specific space to each one or find a way to utilize them.

Sometimes we create "a space" for an item. A drawer, file folder, closet shelf, or hidden nook becomes the home for an item so that it is out of sight, but can be found or accessed as needed. When we create "a space" for something, we seclude it in its own location where it is out of sight or out of the way until needed. Other times we create "space" for an item. We move living room furniture to accommodate a new sofa, re-arrange a china cabinet to include another figurine or dish, or change a wall grouping to incorporate a new picture or piece of artwork. When we create "space" for something, we incorporate the item into a particular setting so that it can be used or enjoyed as we go about our daily lives.

What about people? Do we create "a space" for some and create "space" for others? Do we relegate some middle school or high school peers (or work colleagues or family members) to the fringes of our social interactions, while including others in our discussions and outings? Do we put a disruptive child in a corner of the classroom while we provide instruction to the rest of the class in the center of the room? Do we install a wheelchair ramp or a hearing aid system in our places of worship so that we can point to the "spaces" we're creating for those with disabilities, while neglecting to create "space" for them by sitting with them during the service, inviting them to our homes, or ensuring that they can also join our small group discussion or coffee times? Do we cook special foods for a person on a limited diet, while we continue to enjoy the forbidden foods in their presence?

I'm learning to re-think the accommodations I make for the people around me. Some are simply "token efforts" designed to make me feel as though I'm doing the right thing by creating "a space" for them. But I'm neglecting to incorporate them--their strengths as well as their challenges--into my daily life. In other words, I'm not creating "space" for them.

What about you? What about your home, school, place of employment, or place of worship? Have you done a good job of creating "a space" for some individuals around you, without ensuring that there is meaningful "space" for them? Doing so implies (whether or not it's intentional) that they are not important enough to be included in the types of interactions we reserve for others. Why are we quick to relegate some people to "a space" while we incorporate others into our own space? Sometimes it's because of past experience, or opinions we've formed from prejudicial comments others have said. Sometimes it's because of a lack of understanding or personal experience with those who are "different." Sometimes it's simply because it's easier, since it doesn't require creativity, effort, trying new ways of doing things, or the exercising of hospitality.

A commitment to promoting social understanding necessitates the deliberate creation (and regular maintenance) of "space" for those around us! It means exercising hospitality and inclusion, whether we are playing, parenting, teaching, working, worshipping, or simply going about our daily lives.

A special thanks to those of you who so graciously excel in creating space for others. You are a true inspiration to me!