Community and Spiritual Formation...They really go together?

As I read this section in the chapter, I must say I intellectually agreed with him that spiritual formation as God intended must happen in community. I have taught this for years to parents, teens, and children. Yet, I also realized that my actual internal belief system rebels against this idea. And in thinking and praying on this, I realized that it actually comes back to the earlier part of the chapter about narratives.

Part of my cultural heritage as an American is the idea that I - as an individual - can accomplish what I set my mind to. I have even twisted examples of spiritual development from my own family to fit this individualistic model (but in re-examining the story my grandfather's spiritual depth did not come from a solo exercise, but a constant communal experience. The same is true for my mom.)

Another part of me (and maybe you) resists the idea of casting my spiritual formation into the realm of community, because then not only am I potentially dependent upon others, but I am vulnerable to my failures being visible. Yet, this misses the concept of community that God intended. It's not a focus on failure, but a spotlight on serving each other - aiding each other - growing alongside each other.

We cannot grow alone.  We need the family that God has prepared for us.

 ²⁹ Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, all those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms for me and for the Good News ³⁰ will get more than they left. Here in this world they will have a hundred times more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields. And with those things, they will also suffer for their belief. But in the age that is coming they will have life forever. ³¹ Many who are first now will be last in the future. And many who are last now will be first in the future." (Mark 10:29-31, New Century Version)