The Brave Path to Authentic Community
Updated: Aug 5, 2020
By Daisy Dronen
God's Brave Women - Daisy's Story
One of the bravest things I’ve done is set the table.
Arriving at that moment came after a lonely path of yearning and longing. Here we are in the midst of a pandemic and setting the table for company seems to be out of reach doesn’t it? We find ourselves yearning and longing for time together, but mostly to know and be known.
I moved across the country a starry-eyed newlywed filled with dreams and the excitement of discovery. There was little room to think about the fact that I didn’t know anyone and I was blinded to the loneliness lurking in the midst of so much joy. The endless introductions that ended with promises to see each other soon left me disheartened as the promises remained unfulfilled. People have always been a source of joy and energy for me and suddenly, I found myself surrounded by them but lonely. Yet, I could feel the Lord’s constant reminder, “I am your friend and your greatest reward - remain in me.” So, today I will share with you three times I bravely set the table and how the Lord met me there.
"The core of my desire for authentic community was the gift of following Jesus together. My dream was to have friends that would boldly point me back to Jesus and give me the privilege of doing the same for them."
The core of my desire for authentic community was the gift of following Jesus together. My dream was to have friends that would boldly point me back to Jesus and give me the privilege of doing the same for them. There was a restlessness in my heart and I found myself in a long season of waiting. Not all was loneliness. My life was filled with so much beauty in that season but the underlying restlessness remained. It was that restlessness that propelled me to ask one of the ladies at my church if she could mentor me. This was my first time to bravely set the table. I invited her over and we had brunch on the front porch. I was entering a new season in which life, marriage and motherhood were uncharted territory, and I felt the need for accountability from outside myself. I believe it was the Lord providing for me. I didn’t know what I didn’t know but praise God he did.