Lately I've been thinking about my need to be part of a community. Individualism is a huge part of American culture, urban professional culture and feminist culture. However, community is a huge part of Christian culture, social services culture, and the American holiday season. These elements of individualism and community have me penned into a corner, as I try to determine my place.
This weekend I took a trip up to Shipshewana, which is home to a large Amish and Mennonite settlement. What most of us know about these people is that they are incredible craftsmen who don't use cars or electricity. They are famous for their impeccable cabinetry, delicious baked goods, and simple lifestyle. All these things are true...but I personally had no idea why they were known for these things.
I discovered that the Amish don't use cars because they give too much independence to individuals. Cars keep people away from home. The Amish are very connected to their community and make all decisions based on what will benefit the group rather than the individual. This is also part of the Asian and tribal paradigms. Generally emphasis is placed more on the group when we are dealing with a small enclave, minority, or sect.
So the Amish are all about Community, but that doesn't make them weak. "A cord of three strands..." and all that. This resonates with me because I need people so much. In order to function my best, I need to have interaction most of the time. I do not do well with long periods of time spent alone. And if this whole community of people feels the same way I do, perhaps we're on to something.
"Intentional Community" is a catchphrase I heard ALL THE TIME at Taylor. I always rolled my eyes and focused on how dumb that sounded. It just didn't apply to me. I always had people around me; I never felt lonely because I was living with friends who I could talk to 24 hours a day. But now that I'm out on my own, intentional community is starting to make sense. I really miss it! I miss having people to talk to and hang out with, even if we're just doing work.
I don't know many people in the city. My work hours prevent me from seeing the ones I do know very often. But I need to make the effort to really get to know the people I've met here. I need to form an intentional community of my own.
hello from a fellow (former) social worker . . .
ReplyDeleteexcellent post. you get right to the center of things.
be at peace
Yeah, this is good. I often wonder how some of the homeless people around my house can make it without some sort of community. Some of them obviously have community, but there are a couple that are pretty isolated. One in particular has a mental illness, and I wonder if that doesn't just exacerbate his symptoms. Good post. I always enjoy your stuff.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. I went to Huntington and I find myself thinking the same thing you are. Community is necessary in your walk with Christ. He calls us into a deep loving relationship with him and with fellow bros and sisters in Christ. I struggle finding that community in the type of culture we live in. It is so individualistic and full of business that keeps us from being in close contact with others. I mean just think of what technology has done. I don't need to even speak to people at my job because of email, text messaging, blackberries, etc. Even the church has become a stumbling block for community. We have these meetings once a week where one or two people dominate the center stage and restrict community. Even if you join a small group, to me community is taking a long time to build. It would happen so much better if we lived near or with each other in an intentional community. The menonites don't seem so off to me the more I realize what the church actually is. But, most important in all this is just loving people. We are all corrupt and will never construct a perfect social atmosphere. Since we are all fallen we cannot create something divine. God can and does work in imperfect systems as well as imperfect people to accomplish his intentions. He has been doing this always. In the OT he has worked in the imperfect rule of kings and judges. He has and will have his way in us. I find this comforting that nothing can limit God.
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