Some things I have learned about community. 1. Community starts inside each individual. 2. You are dealing with human nature so do not forget to maintain a sense of wonder, and humor. 3. Community is a relationship where each member is valued, and this takes work. 4. If the community does not fit what an individual is looking for the individual needs to move on. To try to change the community to suit one individual is defeating the purpose of the Community. 5. A community is only as strong as the weakness, and emotional attachments of each member. 6. Dissension unresolved is deadly. 7. A community will change, and grow. Understanding this, and Living the goals set forth will add to the whole balance. 8. One can say what you want to hear, and voice sweet words, but until they are living what they speak the words are as phony as a 6 dollar bill. Listen to what is not said, but done. In other words; If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, or smells like a duck You are probably on the farm, not the community down the road. 9. One person can destroy a whole community like a rotten potato in the root cellar. 10. Community is not about the “ME” factor. Community is about the structured us as one group. Every individual will change the whole balance. 11. As each individual does an intensive internal resume they will have guide lines for living wholeness, just as a community does when they set their guide lines, and by laws. 12. There must be a consensus reality. For those who would twist the truth to their reality. One voice must be the body, not one body the unilateral voice. 13. If YOU are the problem, change your behavior, or move away. Do not expect the community to make that decision for you. 14. Shared work as well as responsibility, is a must. To exclude one hurts the whole. 15. You will care only as deeply for the community as you care for yourself. 16. Time can be a burden, or a revelation where truth is not subjective. 17. Not all people are born for community. Make sure you are, and not just a want-a-be, or not want-a-be alone motivated. 18. Husband, and wife are not always a team. 19. Hormones are like a hornets nest. Somebody is likely to get stung. 20. If you are afraid to be vulnerable, and truthful within yourself then community may not be the place for you. Community is work. and like a fine oiled machine, Respect begins inside, and then community seems like no work at all....well maybe a little. MAYBE; if we all add some of what we have learned the talents, and blessings around us will seem a tad more real, and clear?
