Connect with your Community

When I think about connecting with my community, my first response is to ask, “What is community?” I’m sure we each have in mind what community means or looks like and each answer might vary a little.  

I understand community in two ways.

• The people I live near and see on a random but not infrequent basis. We live in the same area and pass through the same towns. We shop at the same stores. Our children go to the same school and may have the same teachers. We may or may not interact more personally than that. Our lives touch briefly and that touch may or may not impact my life or their lives.
• A small group of people whose only connection (though some of them may know each other) is knowing me. Our lives bump into one another on a regular basis, sometimes by accident, but also on purpose. Our lives impact each other in beneficial ways, influencing, motivating and encouraging. They speak into my life and I speak into theirs.

So, to me, community can have a loose, outward connection or a close, inward connection. Both are necessary. Let’s face it. I can’t have close relationships with everyone, but I also don’t fare well living with only loose connections.

But how do I invest in community?

That’s a hard one.

I can pick where I live. Community.

But I’m not always very good at picking my support community.

• I have judged unfairly. In fact, the least likely candidate, by my first impression, can become one of my closest friends. Sometimes I like to be wrong.
• I have chosen poorly, at times, thinking a friendship had great potential only to see it wither and turn sour, providing no benefit to anyone.
• I have been blinded by my own pain and struggles. Everyone has moments when they want to hide from life. I have had times when I’ve just been unable to see any possibility for friendship, not because it didn’t exist, but because I couldn’t allow myself to believe it.

Fortunately, as I grow older and learn from my experiences, I can recognize the gems more quickly.  

Because … community is a wonderful thing. As I’m able to invest in the people around me, I am delighted in the hodgepodge of interests, vocations, experiences, and perspectives that add depth and meaning to my life. They deepen my understanding of the world and how it works. I feel more complete because of them in my life.

The patchwork created is a beautiful mess of life and perspective and patience and learning and growth. When stirred together, life is more beautiful and complete than it could ever be separately … because of the differences.

What do you like about your community?

Project Prompt: Snap, sketch or paint a picture of a piece of your community (area where you live) that you find fascinating. If you love abstract art, paint the feel of it. No need to tell us where it is. Then, post it on Instagram and tag me @joanneegroff so I can see it too.