"Ask yourself what your questions are and pursue them. Find the people who will work with you. We don't need more spiritual marshmallows in the world. You must honor the answers of the past, but you must test them in the present and always ask what they'll do to the future. The Chinese say that if we stay on the road, we will surely arrive where we are going. Most learning is not acquiring new insights; it's letting go of the old ones."
-Joan Chittister, OSB
I asked myself if I have ever created community. The answer was "yes." Who knew?
The Octaves - I helped found (I was founding president and a singer) an eight-voice a cappella group in college. A few CD's later and many fune e-mails and concerts, the group still exists at the old alma mater. Friendships have developed. People have grown. It is not a "sabbath" community, but it is a celebration of art, music, and joy. That is something.
Richmond Hill - I lived and worked in an intentional Christian community and retreat center for four years. It is still growing and contributing. It is a place of sabbath rest for the city of Richmond. Good stuff. I would like to think that I contributed while I was there.
Reconciler - The Church of Jesus Christ, Reconciler is a congregation that I helped establish. It seeks the reconciliation of a splintered church in America. In ministry there, we are constantly challenged to help create community for those who worship with us. Worship is the core of our ministry. One of the fruit of worship is community. Wondrous.
I have been part of wonderful sabbath communities...North Shore Baptist Church, Seabury Western Theological Seminary, and now the Community Church of Wilmette. These are communities that gather with the expressed intention of faithful life, reflection and study. Perhaps the ratios are different, but intentionality is the key here. And in spite of the fact that I have been a part of these communities, have served them in leadership, I still find the task terrifying.
I am not sure why that is. Megan's internal tape is part of it. "I cannot change society." Who am I to try to do such a thing? But then the words come again: Who am I not to try to do such a thing? A friend once challenged me with those words. I believe that at its core, community is sabbath, and community that gathers with the intention to bring about such fruit as gentleness, patience, kindness, love, self-control etc, are the most important communities there are. And, when held in their proper place in our personal lives, they become the context for all we do...our work and our play. And then, only then, is society changed.
Posted by tripp at March 6, 2007 11:31 AMIt is so interesting to me that we're reading the same words in the same book, and we have such different definitions of the word "sabbath."
You write of the Octaves, "It is not a 'sabbath' community, but it is a celebration of art, music, and joy." And I think, "Sounds like sabbath to me!"
You write later, "I believe that at its core, community is sabbath," and I think, "Um, NO, it's not!" To my admittedly introverted mind, Sabbath = rest, while community = work. Hmmmm.
Posted by: Megan at March 6, 2007 06:45 PM