tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17078165.post2120911643206714272..comments2023-11-02T10:35:00.867-05:00Comments on Phyllis Renée: living in communityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17078165.post-81303188887237300842008-12-04T21:10:00.000-06:002008-12-04T21:10:00.000-06:00You have a knack for capturing the perfect soulful...You have a knack for capturing the perfect soulfulness of a theme like this. And that is truly a part of your contribution to this particular community (allowing for the obvious limitations).<BR/><BR/>Self-reliance and independence are such a huge part of the American ethos that I'm not surprised so many of us struggle with a more cooperative model of living. <BR/><BR/>I have similar conflicts where being generous and giving conflict with my selfish (and self righteous) prickishness. Able-bodied people should buck up, get to work and stop whining, right?Digger Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14124199304493126929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17078165.post-78286853346976210672008-12-02T16:40:00.000-06:002008-12-02T16:40:00.000-06:00I carry a Lego piece with me wherever I go to remi...I carry a Lego piece with me wherever I go to remind me that I am made to be in relationship. Legos are made to be used with other Legos.<BR/><BR/>We are all born totally dependent. But soon (age 2 - 26?) we become fiercly independent. And some of us never get over it. But the healthy person learns to be interdependent. (Not co-dependent!)<BR/><BR/>Some of us can survive with the few we surround ourselves with. Others of us need a "village."<BR/><BR/>I have found that the richness of life is in the relationships we develop and maintain. It is also a Bible truth from Genesis ("it is not good for mankind to live alone.") to Jesus ("Love God; Love others. Everything hangs on this.")<BR/><BR/>However, relationships are messy. Anne Lamott says that where there's a "family" there is always "mess and misunderstanding, hurt feelings, and sighs. But it is a family."<BR/><BR/>Living in community is expanding your family exponentially. And it's wonderful and horrible and rewarding and frustrating; scary and beautiful. Just like family.<BR/><BR/>Try it, Phyl...Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05302139430600014873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17078165.post-12503063789738780052008-12-02T12:20:00.000-06:002008-12-02T12:20:00.000-06:00I seem to have an aversion to community and I beli...I seem to have an aversion to community and I believe it's in part to growing up in a small family (just one sibling). My Dad was an only child as well, so not much extended family on his side.<BR/><BR/>Independence and self sufficiency were models that I took to heart from my Dad and they have served me well thus far in life.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, it's also led to lots of selfishness on my part. You know how a lot of folks say that they can never say "No?" Well, I have no trouble with that concept.Bijouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11577723506036164914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17078165.post-24204244141569062642008-12-02T10:25:00.000-06:002008-12-02T10:25:00.000-06:00Asking for what you NEED is a sign of strength, no...Asking for what you NEED is a sign of strength, not weakness...asking for what you WANT...well, that is a lot different.Bogarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03239349739202059474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17078165.post-12294954995067924822008-12-02T10:16:00.000-06:002008-12-02T10:16:00.000-06:00Ah Phyllis, it's my favorite subject. What else ca...Ah Phyllis, it's my favorite subject. What else can I say that Desmond hasn't already written time and time again. I have pages upon pages of stuff I've written on the subject of Acts 2 and Acts 4 and how to apply it to our current culture.<BR/><BR/>No more hoarding possessions and emotions... Time to share it all! Open up the walls! Death to suburban isolation! It's time for economic and emotional prosperity for all! DOWN WITH THE MAN!<BR/><BR/>Sorry, I get carried away sometimes.FTNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00863217400079842687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17078165.post-21256309415090478222008-12-02T09:50:00.000-06:002008-12-02T09:50:00.000-06:00I could have written much of this post about me. ...I could have written much of this post about me. I was taught those same things about being independent and self-sufficient and not needing to lean on anyone else. What I realize is that I still hold that as the "ideal" and go around feeling a failure when I need a little help from my friends. Yet I too have been accused of coming off as a snob as that seems to be the price one pays for fierce independence and isolation.Trueselfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04376379968984585345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17078165.post-31268490036842762612008-12-02T08:56:00.000-06:002008-12-02T08:56:00.000-06:00I've lived 'in community' like what I think you're...I've lived 'in community' like what I think you're describing, for 35 years, and it is just utterly challenging and life-giving, all at the same time.<BR/><BR/>The passages from Acts 2 and Acts 4 have been very formative of our life, and we have very consciously aimed at the model of the early church (realizing, of course, that the model has to be 'applied' in a social/cultural environment very different from that of the early church).<BR/><BR/>And of course, analogously to marriage (not quite as intense as a marriage, but there are way more than two people involved), the real challenge comes in working out committed, loving relationships with actual sinners, uh, people. . .<BR/><BR/>I'd love to discuss this with you more. . . feel free to email me. . .Desmond Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07829959101276150279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17078165.post-15280902510749047022008-12-02T08:43:00.000-06:002008-12-02T08:43:00.000-06:00Living in a community would be like the town you l...Living in <B>a</B> community would be like the town you live in. But I'm talking about living in <B>community</B>, which I'd say is much like how the early church lived -- having all things in common and giving to one another as needed. Our families, growing up, are communal to a point, but we are taught to become independent and move away from that community.Phyllis Renéehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07091511889201839807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17078165.post-85901773080652039702008-12-02T08:29:00.000-06:002008-12-02T08:29:00.000-06:00What exactly is living in a community?What exactly is living in a community?Roaming With A Hungry Hearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16264483155409850473noreply@blogger.com