I’ve returned from a good weekend with friends. The content of what we learned was OK, but the pace was a bit slow and I think we could have achieved more .. but I’m not complaining as it was great to spend time with friends. It’s an interesting time as we all share what will be happening after ordination and start to focus on the fact that we are in a series of ‘last of’s’ in this little community that we have unintentionally formed e.g. the last time we will be at this particular place as a group etc.

Highlights of the weekend …
seeing friends
laughing with friends
cheering England on to victory
leading the pub in song during the above match

lowlights …
hearing the (not so)mighty Gills loose 5-0!
sitting in lectures
being away from the family

On reflection on the weekend I think I have given myself a job. My ongoing thinking around community caused me to consider on the way home how we have developed this community as a year group.

I don’t think we intentionally planned to do this, but the strength of the community is clear for all to see. Rather than setting out to develop a community, we set out to listen to each other, to respect each other, to be honest with each other, to look out for each other, to try to learn from each other; I think in the exercising of these values we have developed a meaningful and strong community. It’s a community that I know I am going to miss at the end of this course.

As I anticipate building community in the future I think it is these values I need to exercise rather than think in an intentional building way. Rather than having set ideas, a set plan with a pre-determined way ahead I wonder if the only set criteria need to be those values of respect, love and honesty?