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Community and hope during a change of era

A change of era is unfolding. We are all reaching for meaning, grappling for a sane response to the encroachment of the virus. People everywhere are responding to the new norms of behaviour. We are trying to understand what is happening at local and global levels.

All told, I sense that what is happening to the human family is revealing what matters to us. We are uncovering what is of ultimate significance. Personally, I am waking to a deeper experience of belonging to others. I notice my desire for better relationships with my loved ones, friends, neighbours and rivals.

I am waking to a deeper sense of belonging to others

Our communal identity

Community has arrived through conversation. We are connecting digitally and calling each other. Neighbours in every city and town are asking questions of each other. A new communal fabric is being knit together across oceans and continents online and off.

No one is an island anymore. We must never again see ourselves as separate “individuals” living separate lives. We are innately communal beings who long for relationships of love and solidarity.

The physical distancing requirements call for creativity. Each person is finding their own ways to give and receive tenderness. We all need strategies for sustaining community bonds in a time of seeming separateness.

The invitation today

The invitation today is for the creation of deeper ties between us. It is in seeing each person as sister and brother that we will pave a path forward.

With open hearts we can receive the invitation of this moment as persons and communities. With open eyes we can encounter that graced sense of belonging to each other.

The light shines in the darkness

As we approach unknown futures, it is crucial for us to become people of hope. May we notice the light which shines in the darkness.

Published incommunityprose

3 Comments

  1. Catherine Connors Catherine Connors

    Loved reading this James and see such connection with Pope Francis’ words last weekend – “we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this.”

  2. I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
    I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later.
    Many thanks

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