Community
Good
morning Toastmasters. It is my pleasure
to talk about the very subject of community with you. Allow me to begin by giving the dictionary
definition of the word. There were many
definitions given, but the three which follow are the most pertinent to this
morning’s discussion. They are: (1) A
unified body of individuals or a group linked by a common policy. (This may manifest itself in a body of
believers called the church.) (2) A
people with common interests living in a particular area. (Toastmasters is a great example of this as
each of us has a desire to work on our public speaking and interpersonal skills.) (3) A group of people with a common
characteristic or interest living together within a larger society. (This definition is most reflective of certain
ethnic groups; for example, Chinatown in Houston or Little Italy in San
Francisco.)
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV
states:
Two
are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If
either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But
pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Also,
if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though
one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A
cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Based
on these verses, I propose three benefits derived from becoming a part of and
participating in a community of your choosing.
First, there is a sense of belonging as we are all
interconnected. My favorite author,
Philip Yancey, writes: “Any movement has great difficulty sustaining itself
apart from community. A few centuries
before, John Donne writes in his book of meditations,
“No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”
Community does not diminish
our individuality but simply adds to the whole.
The lone ranger mentality is flawed as no one can operate entirely apart
from society. We need each other. Even people like me, who have always ventured
off to do their own thing, need to return to the community periodically for
replenishment, inspiration, and a renewed vision in life.
The second benefit of community is greater networking
possibilities. In February 2010 I moved
here not knowing anyone or knowing my way around. I was literally dropped off in what might as
well been a foreign land. The only
option was to hit the ground running. So
as a person in recovery from addiction, I began by finding and participating in
a local group of Alcoholics Anonymous. In
addition, I also found a cigar shop downtown to frequent. Both of these places became an oasis, a place
of refuge from the tumultuous storms of life swirling around me. If it hadn’t been for either one of these
places, I wouldn’t have made it. Not
only would I have relapsed in alcoholism, but I probably would have thrown in
the towel in resignation of trying to make any meaning or purpose of this life. However, what I found was a community of
sorts, tailored around a common interest.
In either group I discovered people of varying ages and occupations: students,
carpenters, plumbers, and attorneys.
Many people took me under their wings in order to make me feel welcomed
and accepted. As I began to stand on my
own two feet, I was able to contribute to the community in return for those who
are in need of help, like I was and continue to be on occasion. The five dollar word for this is “paying it
forward.”
The final
benefit of community is accountability and growth. While becoming an active part of community,
the people around us begin to understand our individual nuances and
mannerisms. In do so, others can call us
on our “bull” whenever we may throw up a smokescreen or indicate all is not
well within our soul. This sense of
corporate accountability may work for a while, but each of us needs a true
accountability partner, a mentoring relationship. From personal experience, each of us needs
someone to whom we may bare our soul.
Community provides this sense of mutual support. Growth is the inevitable result of
community. Proverbs 27:17 states, “As
iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Each Thursday morning, with a few exceptions,
a community meets at Ol’ South Pancake House in order to build better and
stronger public speaking skills. Along
with this comes confidence. Each of us
lovingly point out [click] our crutch words, as well as formally evaluate the
speakers to applaud the strengths of the speech and to guide us in to areas of
growth and improvement.
In closing, I
believe taking a part in community also bears responsibility. In Matthew 35:31-45, Jesus tells his
disciples a parable.
When the Son of Man comes in his
glory, and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats
on his left.
Then the
king will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you
who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you
clothed me,
Then the
righteous
will answer him and say,
‘Lord, when
did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
drink?
When did we see
you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king
will say to them in reply,
‘Amen, I say
to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for
me.’
Then he will
say to those on his left,
‘Depart from
me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
a stranger and you gave me no
welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in
prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they
will answer and say,
‘Lord, when
did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
He will answer
them,
‘Amen, I say to
you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’
I beseech each of
you to not only reach out to others in friendship, but also to develop the
depth of relationship which will foster true brother- and sister-hood. By doing so, we will reflect true community
by meeting the needs of our fellow man or woman.
** This was another speech given at Toastmasters. Enjoy!
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