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?

Community and Growth - Chapter 1 Questions

From the early communities ordered under St. Benedict to the many that followed, the Cluny's, Cistercians, Franciscans, Moravians, and more recent ones such as L'arche, Taize, and the Sisters of Calcutta, Jesus has and continues to reveal himself as God incarnate. When his followers choose to walk in ways and to pursue Him together, a beacon of light shines out into a world of darkness, life comes forth from death.

Unfortunately many have pursued this life and have found it too difficult, too real, too close to the reality of the resurrection. It brings us back to the words of Jesus and to his life, reminding us that before there is a new creation, there is the death of the old. We have to be crucified within so that the life of Christ can be raised in us and through us. We are forced to face our frustrations with others, with ourselves, and with our lives and soon discover that the battle of community is the enemy within. We are exposed and more often than not disappointed with what we find, but in the midst of that process we find Jesus meeting us, transforming us, healing us. This is the life of intentional community. A life we trusts He is calling us to in this place and in this time.

Questions For All:

1. Why did we or would we choose intentional community? What are/were our motives?

2. What do we expect of others in community? Of ourselves?

3. How would we define intentional community with others? Geography, proximity, mission, values, what is it that makes a community a community?

Questions for those living in, or have lived in, intentional community.

1. How has our understanding of community changed by our experience within it?

2. What did we discover about ourselves through our experience in community?

3. How has God revealed himself to us through our experience?