maybe it really IS all about who you know-- or at least, how you KNOW them.

Recently, the caterpillars have been out in droves. Really, it's hard not to step on one just walking down the sidewalk. And then I saw these two, and it seemed perfect for what I wanted to talk about: the necessity of living our lives with others.


I'm not sure about you, but I saw these two guys and I imagined them having a great caterpillar conversation. Just lined up, catching some sunshine on the stone, enjoying life and the company of the other. Maybe, they're contemplating their beautiful futures (as moths or butterflies-- are these those kinds of caterpillars?). Maybe one just mosied on over to the other because he was there. I like to think that we are drawn to each other like this.

And when we consider what the picture would look like of a caterpillar alone, instead of with his friend, isn't it just a little bit sadder? Well, it is for me. I have felt more and more this past year, that we are meant to live in community. We are drawn to each other. We play off each other. We learn from each other. And we are better able to realize the magnitude of God's abilities when we see them in each other. We become better versions of ourselves through serving others.

So if we're compelled to live in community, if we're created for this purpose as I think we are, then relationships are what life is all about. It's how we live, interact, love each other that we are able to show God's love for the world. It's kind of like life really is all about who you know, really KNOW, and how you love them. Isn't that encouraging?

A friend introduced me to this amazing band called the Cobalt Season, and I have been listening to their fourth cd, In Search of a Unified Theory nonstop for the past two days. I was first struck by their sound, and then kept in awe once I started to hear their lyrics. These in particular (from their song, Begin Again) relate to my thoughts:

I wanna find my way
Find my way back home
I want to learn to love
And I want to be known

Everyone wants to be known. We can only kick our shoes off and really be comfortable when we are. And I'm convinced that being ourselves, owning the particular details that God glories in His creation of us, is definitely the way to go.