Tim Hardy – writer of an occasional blog, (very) short stories and ‘poetry’; believer in God, people and sometimes the church; and pioneer of the rambling, trailing-off introduct… He most enjoys writing about himself.
What is Community?
I have no idea what community is.
None of the books on the subject convince. “A collection of individuals based around a shared interest, leader or purpose.” “That which happens within a commune.” “Something best serviced by those convicted of crimes against it.”
Okay, I made them all up but you know I’m right.
What I do know is that people are important and not just because Jesus said so – although his endorsement is a very valuable point to bear in mind. Any discussion of community that doesn’t begin by assuming the value of people is worthless. People are important and wherever two or three are gathered, something happens: something is formed. The word community fits both the verb and the noun.
So, if it’s that easy, why all the books, why this collection of guest posts, what’s all the fuss about?
Quite simply, like Soylent Green, community is people. And, like people, community is a complicated beast with all the positives, negatives and potential inherent in anything involving people. And, as with people, we find that fascinating.
My brain hurts. Here’s an obvious story:
Once upon a time there was a wise woman who needed to find the answer to a question, The Question, but the scope of the question was too broad and vast for her to begin even contemplating by herself. She gathered friends about her and asked them for help. Whilst they pondered the question, some of them went in search of the kitchen to make tea, some of them sought out music to sooth their troubled breasts, some formed small groups to discuss The Question, some went out to gather supplies (beer and pizza, pot-noodles and wine gums), some made moves to contact experts in the field, and others just sat there and thought long and hard.
But still, even amongst all this activity, the answer proved elusive.
A general appeal was made across all the available media: can anybody with any ideas about The Question please contact the wise woman (although she did not call herself that) at the address below. Offers of help came pouring in and accommodation was made for the visitors. Everybody had an opinion on The Question but few, if any, dared to venture a definite answer – those who did were quickly shouted down by somebody who thought differently.
The wise woman asked some of her friends to go out into the surrounding area, talk to everybody they came across and invite anybody who might have an opinion to join the discussion. This was a roaring success in terms of numbers but, despite everybody bringing something unique, in terms of coming up with an answer, it was a complete disaster. Different factions sprung up, each with their own ideas and methods, everybody talked at once (some quite vehemently) and some of those gathered had very precise and difficult to meet needs.
The wise woman sat down dejectedly. She surveyed the glorious, noisy mess spreading out around her and realised she had found The Answer.
Filed under: Community Blog Party Tagged: community, creative writing
