No Man Is An Island

So says Jon Bon Jovi...

I was watching "About A Boy" this afternoon and the above quote is the opening for the movie, and the prevailing theme throughout.

It made me think about the past few weeks of church and how the movie also teaches to the importance of community. We have spent the last few weeks of church speaking about how to be an "uncommon church" in a common society, and how one way to be uncommon is to embrace and live out community. Today, PD spoke on the need to have common ground, and that common ground is ultimately achieved by standing on the other person's porch looking out, rather than in.

In "About a Boy" it really is about how the pre-adolescent boy, Marcus, realizes the fact that two are not enough. He seeks out the friendship of Hugh Grant's character and in the process the community grows. The closing scene is of seven people gathered round celebrating Christmas. They are an unlikely group of individuals, forged together by experiencing life together, and making the choice to live out their differences and to see life from the other person's perspective.

Living out community is hard work. It is messy and involves a commitment to be vulnerable, and humble before one another and to live with the resolve to keep on trying, and keep on living community; because as Jon Bon Jovi said "No Man Is An Island."