This past weekend we spent four days in Long Beach for Masters Nationals. We had a great regatta: our women's team won the women's point trophy, the men came in second, and overall, Marin Rowing won the points trophy. It was very satisfying, especially considering a number of our outstanding rowers weren't even be there. Our team feels deep and committed.
24/7 togetherness is always an interesting experience in community. That which was funny the first day is irritating the third. That which one could look past on the first day cannot and does not go unnoticed on the fourth. As Kim said in the car on the way home, it is a testament to our friendships that we were still laughing. That we had not killed each other. We were back at the boathouse this morning, erging, getting ready for the Head of the Charles. That is such inspirational committment for me to see.
There are a number of places in Scripture that warn against murmuring. That's what I noticed happening this weekend. Grumbling, murmuring, what we call in church "the parking lot conversations" that tend to break down community rather than build it up. It quickly turns into gossip and pits one against another. Different people react different ways. Some get sucked in to it, some try and distance themselves. It is a group dynamic which is hard to overcome. It seems to happen whereever close community is formed. And it is something to work against, to try and resist, however tempting it may be.
At the same time, the community is strengthened by the commitment and solidarity of its members and the intensity of the time together. On the last day, we got about 40 people to do really good cheering as our boats went by. A simple thing, maybe, but it was unified, strong, supportive to more than our particular subset of the community. A great weekend.
This past weekend we spent four days in Long Beach for Masters Nationals. We had a great regatta: our women's team won the women's point trophy, the men came in second, and overall, Marin Rowing won the points trophy. It was very satisfying, especially considering a number of our outstanding rowers weren't even be there. Our team feels deep and committed.
24/7 togetherness is always an interesting experience in community. That which was funny the first day is irritating the third. That which one could look past on the first day cannot and does not go unnoticed on the fourth. As Kim said in the car on the way home, it is a testament to our friendships that we were still laughing. That we had not killed each other. We were back at the boathouse this morning, erging, getting ready for the Head of the Charles. That is such inspirational committment for me to see.
There are a number of places in Scripture that warn against murmuring. That's what I noticed happening this weekend. Grumbling, murmuring, what we call in church "the parking lot conversations" that tend to break down community rather than build it up. It quickly turns into gossip and pits one against another. Different people react different ways. Some get sucked in to it, some try and distance themselves. It is a group dynamic which is hard to overcome. It seems to happen whereever close community is formed. And it is something to work against, to try and resist, however tempting it may be.
At the same time, the community is strengthened by the commitment and solidarity of its members and the intensity of the time together. On the last day, we got about 40 people to do really good cheering as our boats went by. A simple thing, maybe, but it was unified, strong, supportive to more than our particular subset of the community. A great weekend.
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