In Weakness We Find Strength

The second half of the first chapter of the book Community and Growth focuses on what I would call the three P’s, process, purpose, and perspective. It is an open and honest understanding of the processes in play in the development and formation of community, mostly what is happening and needs to happen in our hearts to allow it. In these processes where love and freedom abound purpose is formed and we eventually mature in our understanding, removed from our ideals of ourselves and others, and we begin to find the power to move from motives that are ultimately born out of self and need to motives of love and generosity. This week Maureen Alianza has blessed us by preparing some specific questions that allow us to not just understand these teachings more fully, but apply them within our hearts and relationships.

Pg 32 (3rd paragraph) Author talks about Scott Peck’s idea of pseudo-communities verses authentic communities. Have you ever been apart of this type of authentic community? What is the risk of entering personally into this authenticity? What is the risk of not personally entering into this authenticity?

Pg 42 (Right to be oneself paragraph) Author talks about the strong tendency within community to “stick an ideal image” on others and then create an obligation to conform to it. What, in you, would make it difficult to let others fall outside of this ideal image? How is this counterproductive to authentic community life?

Pg 48 (1st paragraph) Author implies that “love makes us weak and vulnerable” and that this is, in essence the strength that holds authentic community together. What do you imagine is behind God’s heart in designing us each to live in such a fragile existence together?

Pg 56 (last paragraph) Author talks about moving from “the community for myself” to “myself for the community”. He says that this is a slow but important process. Agree or disagree? Why?

Pg 58 (2nd paragraph) Author talks about the “atmosphere of joy” in a community comes when those in the community feel free to be themselves in the deepest sense. If this is true, how would this freedom come about?