the winter retreating comes to a close.

i overused the word community in my college days. probably so much that the meaning became numb to me. and then something happened two years ago; i committed to something bigger than myself. and that something has grown and it's grown. and i continue to learn and be challenged. and to think and seek. and to listen and hear. and be known.

and now that i've worked hard to find my place in this community (group), i try to embrace it and be excited, without running away. [and dang, is that hard.] but when the nineteen of us spend a whole weekend together, skiing and laughing and eating and singing and slapping our thighs, i can't help but draw toward the One who has joined us, with simultaneous thoughts of gem attempting the butterfly.