Community

Everybody should have at least one healthy real live social relationship with somebody. Belonging to a neighborhood, family, church, health club, or professional organization can be invaluable for our mental, physical and spiritual well-being.

Although virtual communities exist, I don’t think they can replace, replicate or reproduce what is felt person to person, heart to heart, and face to face. There is nothing quite like engaging with real live people. Whether snarky or amiable, there is something to be gathered and gleaned from wherever or whenever we meet another person.

Just the other morning, riding my bike home from the health club, I noticed a newcomer walking down the sidewalk. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen him, but it was the first time I stopped to acquaint myself with him. I casually asked, “Are you living in my neighborhood now?” 

“None of your business,” he replied. 

“Well, okay, then.” I concluded that he did not want to be known by anyone and rode on by. 

At home I felt the need to lock my door. Not knowing someone who is now in the neighborhood made me feel a little unsafe. I also felt sorry for him. He reminded me that, hurt people, hurt people and he must be one of those hurt people. Too bad for him. He won’t be getting my standard welcoming sack of chocolate chip cookies. His snarkiness will definitely keep me at bay. 

I’ve lived in the same township for the last forty-five years and in the same house in the same neighborhood for 34 years. I greet most of my neighbors by their first name and knowing who lives around me makes me feel better. 

I know that my neighbors know when we travel and when we get home again. We keep an eye out for each other, exchanging pleasantries when we see one another and sharing our crops of cherries, plums or gardening advice. It is good to know and be known by those who live around me.

At the local health club I belong to, all the 5:00 a.m. swimmers are on a first name basis. We know whose lane is whose, and when we have to, we know how to share our lane. When I don’t know someone, I’ll introduce myself and so far, I’ve not met a snarky swimmer.

In the locker room just this morning, I introduced myself to a woman who I’ve seen, but had not met. I knew that she was a waitress in town and I asked, “Do you mind if I ask how many days you work?” 

Her smile told me that she was fine with the question and went on to give a few details of her life. She’d been a bartender in town and now she serves coffee and eggs to the same clientele. “My regular customers greet me with a hug every morning. By the way, I’m Adrian.” 

Why Bother?

Why bother belonging to a community? Whether we are part of a neighborhood, health club, family, church or professional organization belonging to a community means it is our business to know and be known by others.

P. S.  I wrote the story of my journey to forgiveness for those who, like me, know they need to change, but are not quite sure where to start. You can find A Heart’s Journey To Forgiveness at Redemption Press and Amazon.