1. ...a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
Now, this definition strikes me prominently. Primarily because it was so evident in Zimbabwe. But also because it's so absent in the UK.
We think of community spirit as something idealistic, that can never be achieved because we dislike our next door neighbours, because we're far too busy to get to know the people who live around us, because we're too independent to care about the people who are literally right beside us, every hour, every day.
Yet, in rural communities across the beautiful, picturesque country of Zimbabwe, community is vital. Community is everything. These next door neighbours are equal to family.
It's a beautiful picture, yet one which occurs because of necessity. These people care for one another because they have to. Their lives are remarkably tough, beyond anything we can imagine. They've lost community members, so they adopt the orphaned children. They farm for six hours a day yet haven't got enough water to use on their crops. They may have to walk 10km for water with animals who might die en-route.
Yet despite this, they carry on. And it's all done for one another. To care for those orphans who need clothing, school fees and food. To encourage one another to keep farming daily. The picture of the communities we visited was one of tough endurance. But they didn't ignore those in need.
I've been challenged remarkably by their attitudes. Their lives. It's taken some days to grasp what exactly I've learnt from Zimbabwe. And I'm still getting my head around it.
However, I'm determined to keep dwelling on this picture; an amalgamation of difficulty and hope. I'm so quick to complain about small issues which occur in my life, such as our currently blocked toilet or the fact that sometimes, my cafetiere doesn't work properly. I've been challenged to return to the bigger picture. We need to care for others as much as ourselves and stop our grumbling.
It's biblical, and community in the Bible is a beautiful picture. The disciples in Acts, sharing everything they had. Paul uses the image of the body of Christ, a unity of believers. We need to embrace this concept of community and learn to confide in one another; to look after one another.
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:16.
However, I'm determined to keep dwelling on this picture; an amalgamation of difficulty and hope. I'm so quick to complain about small issues which occur in my life, such as our currently blocked toilet or the fact that sometimes, my cafetiere doesn't work properly. I've been challenged to return to the bigger picture. We need to care for others as much as ourselves and stop our grumbling.
It's biblical, and community in the Bible is a beautiful picture. The disciples in Acts, sharing everything they had. Paul uses the image of the body of Christ, a unity of believers. We need to embrace this concept of community and learn to confide in one another; to look after one another.
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:16.
We're relational beings. We need to be generous with our time and possessions.
Community:
3. ...a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
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