This week’s writing prompt was – Community.
Community
Everyone belongs to a community. Most of us belong to several communities. What communities do you belong to?
Thinking about the communities you belong to:
Is your community one that strives to work together as one, or is it one that emphasizes self as the focus of being?
Is it one that strives for openness and independent thinking, or does it believe in the dogma that you were told to think without exception?
Does your community embrace acceptance and understanding, or does it deny diversity and look down on those who are different?
Is your community small and close-knit, or expansive and inclusive of others globally?
Does your community have a physical presence, or does it connect with others virtually?
Is your community real, or is it tethered to some virtual reality, such as a video game or AI?
Are you a leader in your community, or a follower? How do you participate?
Communities change over time. What was once a community of common characteristics and thought can, as it grows, bring in shape changers. Those who wish to alter the tenets of the original intent and redesign its meaning.
“Times change. Needs change. Interactions change. We must change!” is their call.
When I was young, our way of seeing the world was through TV, radio, newspapers, and the postal service’s delivery of mail. Some events didn’t unfold for days after they had already happened.
Nowadays, there is no delay in finding out anything. Your knowledge is increased by the touch of a finger. And that knowledge is not necessarily accurate. Too many people look only for others who support their opinions, rather than for facts that prove their opinions are correct.
That in itself affects multiple communities.
Everyone should adapt to an ever-changing world. We can hold on to beliefs, but we must find an alternative to adherence to dogma that does not promote a better world, and focus instead on life as a whole, goodwill toward others, caring for all those around us, and acceptance of diversity.
The term ‘People of progressive faith’, with love at the center of an interconnected web, was mentioned at a recent service I attended.
To survive in these times, our global community must not give up on hope and faith. Let that progressive faith bring us together so that we can build our better world.
That is the community I want to belong to.
