Why Community (part 1?)

So....why think about community?
Well it seems to me that people are lonely... and while there are benefits of living alone, I don't know if it is the most beneficial, economic (In an economy that is supposedly not doing very well...), or spiritually uplifting way to live.

We are working jobs that we don't like, for money that is (")barely enough to live.(") Then since we are so miserable, we spend excess money making ourselves "feel better". We do this by...eating out (a lot), buying lots of things we don't need like excess expensive clothes and shoes, knick knacks, narcotics in various forms legal and otherwise, sports memorabilia, cable/satellite t.v. with a billion or so channels...etc. Then we justify this because we work hard and have deserved a break...and its not like it's evil or anything. The problem is...we've come to expect that we can basically have anything we want. Whenever we want. Anything...anytime. (well sort of) But reality is...if everyone in the world lived like we do...the world would not be able to sustain human life. So isn't it time to consider a change? Isn't it time to stop thinking about only ourselves and the relatively small community of people who care about us (and look/act like us) and therefore we care about them (examples are blood family, church family, gangs, countries...) and start thinking about community on a larger scale? Why are we competing? We all know we don't really have to. Just because things are...doesn't mean they have to be. We are the agents of change. But of course we have to change ourselves first. ...


Personally...I would like to draw my ideal living situation from the early church in Acts 4 "³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." Imagine a world where everyone was willing on their own to sell what they had (especially excess of) to provide for the whole community. What would the world look like? The problem is...it was hard back then...and it is going to be hard today... Because let's be honest...we can all talk about being self-less...but who is really ready to serve anyone...and everyone (i mean...criminals? drug addicts? GLBT? those who oppose OUR nation? smelly people? ugly people? poor people?)...to the point of death? Yikes. I would like to think I am...but people tell me I'm crazy and that it would be much easier to just look out for myself and those close to me...and hope for the best for everyone else....you know...not actively against anyone...but not actively for anyone either...really.


But...maybe we're doing all we can do...ya know...charities here and there...a helping hand once in awhile...I don't know sooooo....


I want to keep these short because I have a tendency to be long winded. I want people to be able to read quickly and respond quickly. I have lots of ideas...this is really just the surface...the beginning....a glimpse. But what would be the point of a dictator-style thought domination train about....community? lol. So please...help me. I really want to follow God...and live a more sensible life. God help me, help us all...I pray for wisdom, peace,  understanding, patience/endurance, courage, and love for all of us who want to be part of this. Thank you for your time.


I am Corwin, Companion of the Heart. I love you, and you should know (even if you don't believe)...God loves you too.