“Community is the unexpected byproduct of engaging with the world in enlightened ways. It’s the reward for showing up in the world as your authentic self and doing the things that you care about.” – Nick Halaris
I read the above passage in a newsletter, PROFIT+, that I subscribe to and one that I highly recommend. The article’s topic is “Just How Do You Experience Community?” Community is a byproduct from our creation. It does not bring us to life, we bring it to life.
We are naturally inclined to live and interact with others, making the creation of communities a result of our existence. Community is not an option we choose to participate in, like a club or group, it is a fundamental aspect of our being. One of the great joys in life is being part of a community. My prior blog, “What you and I do feeds what we become” relates directly to what a community aspires to be. Individual actions feed the collective whole.
True community carves a path for progress that overcomes personal divisions, a path to solve the complex problems in our modern world, and a path to be part of something special and significant. Community raises the bar. We become accountable to the community as well as ourselves. A rising tide raises all ships. Cooperative action results in a total greater than the sum of what each individual could have produced independently.
On one of my business trips this year, I was renting a car and the woman processing the rental was wearing a necklace with a gold jigsaw puzzle piece as the charm on it. I commented that it was an interesting piece of jewelry. She thanked me and said it was to remind her that she is just a piece in a larger picture. But that piece is an important one as without it the picture isn’t complete. Our individual life is not the be all end all, just a piece in the mosaic of life. We are an important piece of the community, but not bigger than the community. It is arrogant of us to think otherwise.
When we focus on building friendships and investing in authentic relationships, we create a community. Meaningful connections create a network of supportive individuals who enrich our lives and enhance our opportunities for growth and success. Diverse perspectives allow for people to learn from each other, to understand each other, be corrected by each other, and form a community to live in peace with each other.
“Team” is a synonym for “community.” Interdependent players and coaches share their gifts to one another’s benefit. Every individual is inextricably bound to the others and to the success of the team. Teams and communities just don’t happen they take hard work, dedication. Within the word “community” is the word “unity.” Unity is an environment that is created. It isn’t coached like a skill set or learned in a webinar.
I read an article that claims “societal pressures” create and preserve society. Pressures like moral pressure (long-standing values and norms), reputational pressure (peer pressure), institutional pressure (rules and laws), and security systems (mechanisms designed to induce cooperation, prevent defection, induce trust, and compel compliance). I could not disagree more. Pressure and systems (political, economic, social) are external. All systems fall apart, as do civilizations built on these systems. Blame for the failures of these systems always falls on someone else, the greedy elite, evil corporations, freeloaders, criminals or general incompetence all around.
In building a community, there are hurdles we must overcome. The elements of money and power obsession, selfishness, apathy, and ignorance are present in our culture; present in concerning levels. We must be committed to working to foster a “more perfect Union.” Our Founding Fathers framed the Constitution as a living, working document. The use of the words “more perfect” implies an eternal effort. We can all play a role in improving our Nation. The best way for that to happen is on the local level with our community.
The falling apart of society is linked to a lack of belief. When there is no conviction to a moral standard and a greater purpose, then little matters. God created humans to be in community. We were intended to belong in relationship, with each other and with Him. Scripture tells us we were created in the image of God. One thing that is often overlooked, is that God is a God of community. To be made in His image means that we are also made for community. It is through Christ people can experience a sense of relational community.
In Chapter 8 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he stresses that as Christians we should defer to the wishes of others. Paul introduces the theme of contributing by individual action to the welfare and growth of the community. He urges us to emphasize the importance of community rather than an individualistic view of our Christian freedom.
John’s Gospel opens with an understanding of God being in community, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). John calls Jesus the Word. This is a familiar term for both Jews and Greeks but perhaps the most telling part of the verse is the word used for “with God.” The Greek preposition here connotes communication with another. From the beginning, as in before creation, God was togetherness.
In the early chapters of Acts, individuals devoted themselves to the teachings of the Apostles and continued the practices described during Jesus’ ministry. They devoted themselves, as individuals, to the building up of their faith community. They extended themselves to caring for others and embracing all in their community.
We must strive to engage with the world in the enlightened ways of our faith. We must use our gifts to be the light our community desperately needs to see. We are responsible to bring to life the community that reflects His kingdom.