在Eli的生命中，他享受过一些美好的时光。他属于一个关系亲近的家庭、有一个理想的教会和青年团契、和一群友情深厚的朋友；他们一家在科罗拉多州平原拥有田产，而他最近也随宣教队到过非洲。然而，当他想起社群时，Eli记得的却是他和好友们一起做的日常琐事。他想到的是一起看电影、维修汽车、和谈论美式足球。在进行那些日常琐事中，Eli找到慰藉、安全、感到能够与人有连系，对他来说，这些点滴感受是非常重要的。
神在大事当中临在，也在生活上微小、平凡、和不显眼的事当中临在。神施行伟大的神迹、拯救数不清的人、祂医治重病，也在我们最软弱的时刻看顾我们，衪知道我们生活上每一个细节，在我们生命中，感到似乎没有入在身旁，也感觉不到什么重要的时刻，神就在微声中与我们同在。
社群生活也是一样。它不单单在重要和翻转生命的大事当中，它不单单在大规模的群组当中，它也在生活上不显眼、琐碎的事中存在。有时我们甚至不是特意去寻找它，它却在我们面前出现了；它在喝咖啡时静静的交谈中、在不重要的游戏晚会、在一家人用膳时，或与朋友在车房修理汽车时出现。
你在那些不重要的时刻里发现了社群生活吗？当你在那些时刻里找寻社群生活时，它或许就在你身边出现了。
主啊，求你帮助我们，留意我们可以与别人和与你共享社群生活的那些微小时刻。阿们。
列王纪上 19:9-13
9他在那里进了一个洞，就住在洞中。耶和华的话临到他说：“以利亚啊，你在这里做什么？”
10他说：“我为耶和华万军之神大发热心。因为以色列人背弃了你的约，毁坏了你的坛，用刀杀了你的先知，只剩下我一个人，他们还要寻索我的命。”
11耶和华说：“你出来站在山上，在我面前。”那时耶和华从那里经过，在他面前有烈风大作，崩山碎石，耶和华却不在风中；风后地震，耶和华却不在其中；
12地震后有火，耶和华也不在火中；火后有微小的声音。
13以利亚听见，就用外衣蒙上脸，出来站在洞口。有声音向他说：“以利亚啊，你在这里做什么？”
"When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave." - 1 Kings 19:13
Eli has enjoyed some big moments in his life. He is part of a close-knit family, a good church and youth group, and a meaningful group of friends. His family homesteads on the Colorado plains, and he recently visited Africa on a mission trip. But when he thinks of community, Eli thinks of the little things that his closest friends do together. He thinks of watching movies, working on cars, and talking about football. In those little moments of life Eli finds comfort, safety, and a feeling of connectedness that are very important to him.
God is present in big things, and God is also present in the small, mundane, and quiet things of life. God does huge miracles, saves countless people, and heals debilitating diseases. God also watches over us in our weakest times and knows the minute details of our lives. God is present in the whispers of our lives when it seems as if no one is there and nothing matters.
Community is similar. It isn’t just present in the big and life-changing moments. It isn’t just present in huge groups. It is present in the quiet, little things of life too. Sometimes we aren’t even looking for it, and it just shows up. It is present in quiet conversations over coffee, in small game nights, in family meals, or in a garage as friends work on a car.
What small moments do you find community in? Maybe when you look for community in those situations, you’ll see it all around you.
Lord, help us to notice the small moments of community we can have with others and with you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
