First impressions often mislead us to who people really are. My first wrestling team included a variety of personalities. One persons breath smelled like a wet dog. Another didn’t know when to shut up. He doesn’t shower. That guy has a weird laugh. And the one over there never talks…ever! Comparatively, I think I am pretty normal.

Normally, I would never pick to be with these guys. But after spending day after day and tournament after tournament with them, they became family. As I heard their stories and got to know them better, their personalities made sense. We became close and shared our life experiences. We encouraged and challenged one another to something greater.

Sometimes in life, we are forced into new situations with new people–but we make it work. Think about when you were growing up or your children who are in school. They don’t get to pick which classmates they have or who is on their team, you deal with it and learn to make it work. Even now when we are at work, we don’t get to choose who we want to work with.

Though in our personal lives, for some reason, we move towards isolation. Away from others and away from community. Maybe it’s because of hurt or because we try to find someone that is so much like us, that we never find them.

On January 29, we will be having LIFE Group Links at each of our campuses. Here you will be able to meet people with the goal of connecting into a group. People who want to connect with others. People that want to grow in their relationship with God and impact their community. You have the opportunity to belong to a group that can have fun with one another, care for each other and challenge each other to something greater.

Sure, it may feel like the first day of school, but once you are there you will find people that you can connect with. As you start doin’ LIFE together you might start to see, like I did, that really you are not that different at all.

• Want to register for the Link at your campus? Click Here
• Already have a group of friends that you connect with? Touch base with the Community LIFE team at LIFEgroups@lcbcmail.com and we will get you started with some next steps.