True Community always expresses itself outwardly.
The brighter the light, the more you can see. If you like bright flashlights, we saw an interesting video on YouTube—check out Imalent’s products (we aren’t affiliated with them or anything like that—we just thought the videos were cool). It’s unreal how bright the modern LED lights have become. Tactical lights provide super bright illumination. They are beneficial for those living in or traveling through dark places. They can be helpful in places requiring additional security.
Anyway, I digress.
Our modern approach to community (notice the small “c”) is lacking. It’s isolating. It’s expensive. It’s discriminatory (as in pass a lotto ticket, please, if you are starting out or lacking in moolah). It’s a disaster.
Our modern approach to community has become dark.
People need light in the darkness (unless you are part cat or love to chow down on lots of carrots until you turn orange).
True Community is supposed to emit light. It’s not a black hole vacuum-cleaner sort of thing which sucks up light. Like, if you’re in a starship, steer clear of those black holes if you know what’s good for you.
When Community becomes inward, and does not emit light, it’s making a mistake. For example, let’s say you’re a developer and put up this fancy resort kind of place. It costs mega-bucks to go live there and part-mega-bucks for the annual fees and upkeep. Only the in-crowd and those with lots of money get to go there. It helps to be Somebody Special.
Like, seriously, how can the average person afford to buy into those places? Are you supposed to flip burgers faster than a 10-arm robot to make enough to afford these places?
Nowadays, the fast-burger-flip routine gets you a cheap pillow from a big box store and a parking pass to sleep in your car. Food is over-rated unless you get a burger-flipping bonus. No bonus might mean getting a bag of food at the food bank … if they have enough in stock.
Of course, the swanky development has a big security fence to keep the burger-flipper types out. Once you get past the burly guard at the gate, you can park your Italian supercar at the Community Clubhouse. Oops—we meant to say the valet will park it for you.
The Community Clubhouse is open to all money-packing residents and their guests. Burger-flippers?
Nope.
The Clubhouse will have lots of lights on, mood lights and everything one’s heart could hope for (materially) in the Community Club house. Residents will say they love the community feeling there.
Sorry, but that’s not Community. Community is always outward. It helps the down and outers. It shines light into the gutters of life to help the isolated, tear-stained, and those torn apart by a tough life. We are talking about shattered hearts and spirits that really just want to check out of this life once and for all. They know suffering.
Unfortunately, the Community Clubhouse we have described is inward. It doesn’t let light out: it’s only for the monied residents. It has become a place of darkness in need of light. The light of “community” being enjoyed is not genuine Community.
So it doesn’t matter if we are talking about a particular sect within a religion that is isolated … the holy-ones… the ones that only accept those with a particular set of beliefs. It doesn’t matter if the clique is in the academic world. Or, if the hobnobbing is in boardrooms over a glass of scotch, or walking the halls of power and politics. There is no fundamental difference in the underlying motivations.
Light goes outward to dispel darkness. Light naturally emanates outward. Light does not contain itself inwards. It is not a black hole.
The light of True Community emanates outward. It does not hide in houses with the shades drawn down. We know everyone needs their own space and privacy—that’s not what we are talking about here. When you form Community, use it to help others in need, and not just the favored ones.
What kind of light surrounds you? What kind of light do you show to others?
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