We have a community at camp. Year round staff who are making this their careers, people who are there for a 10 month season, some who joined in midway. All living on the same grounds, others come up each day. Many expectations come with them. "I want to be in community," is the slogan of the day. Why do we strive to be in community? What is the need for it? Is communty only for people of likeness - same color, same beliefs, same sames? What is the difference between living in Fresno or on 350 acres in the Sierra Nevadas.
What do we hold on to in community? What is our identity? How do we commune with each other when there is really such a difference of such issues that separate us, i.e. experiences, cultures, plumbing, color, work ethics, education, ability, interests, likes and dislikes, maturity levels, expectations...
How do we handle our differences. How do we handle it when we get tired and bored. Do we really want to live in community or away from the parents? Do we take responsibility for our lives and give it away to others or do we only seek those that will add to us or agree with us?
Thoreau's Walden was not community but an escape. I am thankful for his insights from his journey but I cannot model this life and still be a disciple of Christ. I love Thomas Merton, but my life cannot be about a hermitage and writing my thoughts although that is what I seem to be doing a lot lately... But that is called depression.
We must be about the marketplace, we must invest out lives in the culture and the people in the communty where we are. Brief stints in cloistered community are good but they must prepare us and create the focus towards the marketplace, the coffeeshop, the workroom, the familyroom.
Those who have been in the classroom most of their lives think in theories and formulas. Hardbound answers that worked in a given environment at a given time won't necessarily prepare us for dynamic answers from unpublished questions. Long term exposure to units of study causes quick answers and short relationships.
The ordination of leadership cannot come from the environment of study but it has to be lived out of love, wisdom, understanding, mercy, and peace. Not hoops. I have nothing against seminaries (well... I have a lot against seminary, but what I mean to say is that seminaries are not the issue at hand) but we are impressed when someone goes off to a religious institution thinking that they are CALLED but sometimes they are not but hiding in a community that is about perserving control and power.
"Only three years and you can influence people spiritually!" Should be the motto on the brochures for these places. "Come and control!" "Set the Rules!" "Be in charge of symbols and icons." Don't look behind the curtain.
Questions of leadership is on the reference instead of evidence of fruit. "What have they been doing in the Kingdom lately. No the main concern is will they sit quietly and take in all that we think is important to continuing a religion instead of listening for the word of God to take these people to Him.
Do our communities lead people to God or just to the community?
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