Band Together

Community. What does it mean to you? Is it the city you live in, perhaps the neighborhood, or even your church? Or, rather, is community the deeper sense of belonging that we all strive for inside?

I used to view community service as punishment, and punishment only. It often is. In my mind, it was merely something we do to make up for an infliction on the world around us, or to make your college application look a little shinier. I thought to myself, 'What's in it for me?'. It's easy to fall into that state of mind: Where is my gain? What is my benefit?, when in reality the benefit is not intended for us at all.

Being part of a community, as I am just realizing, is a far larger picture than just our particular part within it. Together we share in the fruit of our labors. Whether the 'we' is our family, church, or city, we support it and are intimately connected to it. No action we take goes unnoticed by our community. We work, and our communities share in the harvest that we reap from our business. Good or bad.

Next time you go into your town to shop, have a look around. What do you see? Do you see a collection of outposts with walls around them, each guarding themselves from the outside world? No, not at all. On the contrary, we see many pieces of a greater whole, all open and actively a member of the community. It is as though the towns and cities we live in are living organisms. Each member of the organism has a job, and, without each member, the greater whole shall fail. The highways, which were built by our sons, brothers, and fathers, are the veins, each carrying the life-blood of our community. We the humans; we are the hearts, lungs, and brains that keep the collection of chaotic events organized and progressive. Every one of us plays a critical role in the development and sustentation of our communities.

How awesome it is to be part of such a beautiful dance! We are able to enjoy so much because of our ability to work together. All of our luxuries are born out of community. Our friendships, intimate relationships, our jobs; they are each and every one good. They are all born out of our ability to communicate effectively.

The ramifications of our communities can be felt throughout our everyday lives. When a cop decides to crack down on speeders throughout a section of highway, it's not just a hairbrained idea. It's because somebody is obviously doing it. We all catch the effect in progress. We are constantly a cause, and no cause goes without effect. It is clear, then, that we must ensure that our causes produce positive effects.

That is the true intention behind community service. I am glad I learned it, as it changed my perspective on how I effect my community. What I realized is this: every breath, every action, and every moment carries with it the possibility to change somebody's life, and potentially the world, forever. Be careful that you choose your actions carefully. They will not only effect you, but every single person who can and will come into contact with you.

Peace be with you.

UNTamable

Show me a mountain, oh glorious mountain, of which no man has traversed. In due time, you will find, it is another domestication of the wild, whose legend is no more.

Show me the end of the earth, at which no waking eye may gaze. I will bring back to you a floating ball; quite contrary to your enigma.

Show me a vast valley of scorching heat, as it may be quite untamable. Yet, now we see, ah yes, it is a field of glass and current, and thus powers our luxuries.

Hath not the wild bestowed unto us a true challenge? For which conquest, which fare, can we not claim dominion?

Such is the story of Man. Such is the glory of God.