Tuesday, 21 August 2012
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Called to Community
People and relationships -- and the often painful struggle that goes with all that -- are perhaps the most important things that need to be cultivated in life. For how else can the heart stretch and grow towards that love that sees others as another ‘self.Or to put it in Christian terms: as another Christ.
Perhaps hell is isolation, a place of inner chaos and fragmentation freely chosen against the backdrop of love and relationship. I don’t know, yet we are called to community and the unique struggles we all have with that reality is just part of the journey.
For without failure there could be no self knowledge.
How do you feel when you are alone or isolated? How do you feel when you are in community with other people? Do you believe that you are called to be in community?
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About the Author
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- From: markdohle
- Name: markdohle
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- About Me: I am a Roman Catholic, who seeks to ever deepen my love of Jesus Christ.
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Comments (4)
I really like the coral color of the walls in that picture. It's feminine, but with the right contrasting colors, furniture, and style, it could be manned up for an edgy look anyone could enjoy. Just look at how much fun those people in the picture are having!
Yes, it's wonderful to be in commune with others, but coming from an introvert's feelings about life, sometimes it's harder to be with large groups of people. Staying home with my favorite t.v. show, or a good piece of literature is easier, yet I know we are called to be part of community, part of social justice, and just plain involved. For some it's really easy. I wish it were for me. And I rarely feel isolated, because I am involved with family. And when I say involved, it can be as simple as a phone call catching me up on events. I did not attend my niece's wedding, my brother's only child, as I would have been there with my step mother, who detests my very existence. Anyone who disagrees with her politically has been cut off from the family. Should I have gone? Some say yes, because it wasn't about me, but I would have literally been sick to my stomach to have to be there.
I believe a person experiences life as a series of variations on expectations. Our expectations are driven by our experiences carried from the past. Interactions within a community accelerates our formation of expectations. Normal brain and body functions drive our thirst to repeat pleasurable experiences. Partly for that reason Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. - John 6:35
That doesn't answer the question, "are we called to community" but believing in Jesus certainly must calm the craving.
Community problems were there from the beginning in Acts. Jesus also had some frustrations with the dicples. Scott Peck said something profound: "We join communities, get married, etc., for the fight". Paraphrase here, but I think it is true.
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When alone things can be smooth, but there can be little personal growth; when with others, well we can rub against one another and sturggle with actually staying with it....also knowing that we do the same for others, cause them to sturggle, can give us some perspective....well I try....fail...and try again
peace
mark