Crisis-proof Community?
The news in general, but this recent international article in the Economist in particular (link may not be permanent), suggests that we should look at the current financial turmoil as more than an eddy in the river: rather a waterfall which is a few short paddle-strokes downstream. One of the arguments for Community – as opposed to a collection of individuals – is that the ability of many to navigate difficulty is generally greater than the ability of the few. Or rather: united we are a grove of trees standing against the wind, while divided we may be wind-lodged wheat.
As we look to creating physical structure for community, we do well to consider how our social structure may use collective wisdom and the support of our gathering circle to create a haven for ourselves, perhaps adopting simplicity as a curative (and shared action as preventative) to chaos. There are tangible and intangible ways to respond to challenge, and the number and scale of those opportunities increase as the size of the dedicated group increases.
Experts agree that this is, this will be, Recession with a capital "R". Experts believe the "correction" may be deeper and longer than that. How do we take action, modest and consistent, vibrant yet balanced, that assures we live safely, fully, and soundly? Without doubt, eight years sowing the seeds of fear and impotence, as a political slogan and a cultural truism, has helped promote a season of scarcity and doubt. When we fall back to earth, we do find what we have, and see what we may impact, how long the reach of our arms may be. Sometimes, it is three feet, and no further. By joining together in small, local action, we create a foundation for ourselves and, as our Vision states, generate strength that may be offered outside of our Circle:
From this abundance and experience, we will offer what we have learned to the greater community, and contribute to the healing of the world.
The hope is that, by learning the art of sharing our lives, the simple addition of 1-plus-1, or 2-plus-2, brings a suprising and non-linear result, not 2 and 4, but 4 and 16: that human spirit combines geometrically or exponentially to create an abundance, which can be offered in one form or another to the circles of communities which surround us.
Ideas we entertain, sooner than later, will allow us to take steps, before we are forced to march.