Community

The horrible event in Arizona this week has prompted me to ruminate on the crumbling sense of community. Having moved from a society where there are strong elements of community available, to one where it is difficult to get people to let you in far enough to create a real sense of community. I have been contemplating the impact of a sense of community on individuals at some level for a long time. The senseless killings in Arizona have just brought all this thinking to the forefront of my awareness.

With tight-knit communities, where everyone knows everything (or at least the important things) about everyone else, and treat each other with compassion and understanding, or tolerance at the very least, such mental and social dysfunction in one member of a community are much less likely to result in such horrible action. With greater awareness of and connection to those around us, much of this dysfunction would not occur at all, and outright psychosis would be recognized as such and dealt with before the individual or individuals involved could actually act out.

If we take charge, as individuals, and consciously allow ourselves to interact intimately with those around us, creating a sense of community, with all the sense of support and true connection that creates, we can create an environment where the good overcomes the erroneous in the thought stages before it ever comes to action and destruction of lives. This action of conscious connection with compassion is easy to accomplish if we just DECIDE to open ourselves to others. It’s the deciding that seems to be difficult for many. It seems that the fear of the judgement of others is too strong, although we are always our own harshest judges.

While this connection is not the complete solution, in many cases it could and would be an “early warning system”. Those within the community who are well adjusted, for the most part, far outnumber the violent and psychotic. Truly caring for ourselves, and others, must become more than just a “good idea”, or a “concept” and enter our lives on a visceral mental and emotional level – “real”. It is impossible to love too much – it just requires a bit of creativity to find outlets for this great love that those on the receiving end can understand and accept.

I challenge you, dear reader, to join me in letting your unconditional love grow and flow through and around you and those you care for – express your love at every opportunity, and see what happens. Whatever the outcome, it can only be good.