The Cove

This past April I had the privilege of taking in the Emerging Christianity Conference in New Mexico. During that time we were bombarded with ideas and thinkings that I knew then would take some time to develop in my head and heart. My plan is to use this space to develop that thinking, while also developing my writing life. Thought # 1  People that say they love community but don't love people, destroy community. a. I sense the idea of community has become a consumer product or service like any other thing or service we consume. I think we idealize community just as we do all other things we consume. The promise of every product or service is that it will make us happy or at least pleased. We would never buy anything that makes us unhappy or uncomfortable. But that is exactly what authentic community does. Being that a community is made up of people that are both wonderful and awful at times. Hence the frustration many feel. They signed up for pleasure. b. There is an attitude of entitlement in most people and when expressed in community, usually reveals its' ugly face as an accusation to the people or leaders of the community that some how they have not met the needs of the accuser. It's as though somehow the community owes its' members the feeling of belonging and support. c. I think the ideal of community has become a misplaced cure all for the loneliness and isolation of a radically individualistic society. We still know that somehow we need each other, but that idea is subverted at every moment by our radical individualism. It is almost as though every other person exists for my benefit. d. I think Christian Community has over promised (perhaps lied) on what it will be like to be a part of a church or faith based group. Most likely this is because we have not understood that societal individualism and its effects have made us desperate for change, but we are not yet changed. e. I think most people are confused by the idea of loving others. Probably because we don't know how to love ourselves. f. I think dualistic thinking (black & white) keeps us from accepting others as imperfect and non vindictive. We imagine that people are trying to hurt us, when in fact people are thinking about themselves just like we are. g. I do not believe authentic community has any chance of forming until people are allowed to be human again. Community will happen when people bless people to be people, together struggling through the awkwardness of loving each other. Loving both the ugly and beautiful in each person. Yet still I believe the struggle to form an authentic community is worth the effort because transformation requires more than me thinking about me.