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July 22 2019

Community – The Antidote To the World We Find Ourselves In

Community - The Antidote to the World We Find Ourselves In

In today’s world there seems to be a lot of people who can find a lot of things to disagree on. But I believe we can all agree on one thing; that overall, the current vibe is a bit chaotic and quite negative. In the midst of it all are, what I like to call, the 3 d’s: discontentment, disconnection and division. This week I’d like for us to consider: Community- the Antidote to the Word We Find Ourselves In.

The Week Is New

The week is new! If you have been joining in regularly you know the drill. For those of you who are new to us, grab your favorite mug and drink and set aside a few minutes to sit and chat! You may have noticed it has been 2 weeks since we last sat together. Going forward this will be the new schedule. Every 2^nd Monday morning you will find a new blog post right here!

Be sure to check in regularly. I miss you when you don’t show up! Even better, to ensure you don’t miss any postings, see the directions to subscribe to receive this blog in your email on the right hand side of the page. If you are reading this outside of the website, click here to go directly to the website.

Step 1- Considering Community

What do you think of when you hear the word “community”? How would you define the word “community”? In contrast to the 3 d’s mentioned above: discontent, disconnection and division, community speaks of similarities, support and unity. A community is a group of individuals who gather together. That gathering can, but doesn’t have to, take place in the same physical space. Individuals in some communities may have never physically met one another, but are connected none the less. Communities have similar interests, visions and/or goals. They gather for the purpose of having a united voice. Communities also gather to support and encourage one another.

What Do Your Communities Look Like?

We are part of many communities. Our families, our social groups, our churches, our work places, the people we hang around with, groups that we find ourselves interested in, hobby groups, and sport groups are all examples of communities. They all represent people with common interests, coming together, with a united voice and purpose, supporting and encouraging one another. What communities are you a part of? Can you identify the common voice and goal of each of those communities? How do you support and encourage one another?

My Hope And Vision For This Community

This blog can also be a community. Although we are not physically together as I write and as you read this blog, my hope and vision for this time and space is that through it we can build a community; a real sense of being together. My hope and vision includes a two way dialogue that is more than me writing and you reading. I want to hear your voice, answer your questions and talk about topics that are of interest to all of us. Over time, I want us to grow together, supporting and encouraging one another, as we share our hearts, thoughts, vision for our lives and the lives around us, our dreams and the goals we will put in place to get us there.

Together, In This Time And Space, We Can Build Community

Did you know that we can actually chat back and forth through the comment section? I welcome your comments, questions, suggestions for topics of discussion and your thoughts. Your heart is what I want to hear! I want to hear all about your big dreams! Be the one to start the conversation and someone else will be more likely to join in. As well, you can always be in touch with me through email or on my Facebook Business page. Let’s make this a two way conversation!

Step 2 - Community And The World We Find Ourselves In

“The world we find ourselves in.” There is something about this statement that doesn’t sit right with me. I believe it is the sense I get, as it rolls off my tongue that we have allowed life and the world to happen to us; it has impacted us, but we have not moved in such a way as to impact it. We are meant to take an active role in life and the world around us. Sitting back and allowing life and the world happen to us, puts us in a situation where the 3 d’s have full control over us and maximum impact on us. Discontentment, disconnection and division; this is not the direction we want to be headed in. Discontent = lack of satisfaction or contentment. Disconnection=to detach or terminate a connection. Division=separation and disunity. The 3 d’s involve the breaking apart of connections and the resulting lack of contentment.

Step 3 -Community As An Andidote

I believe that the antidote can be found in the building of community. An antidote is something that remedies or counteracts. What are we counteracting? We are counteracting the fact that we have allowed the world to impact us, rather than impacting it. The 3 d’s of discontentment, disconnection and division that have resulted in a negative and chaotic atmosphere also need counteracting. Now what? It is time to build community. Remember, community is about connection; connection around common interests, vision and goals; connection that happens when we support and encourage one another. This connection is an active process. It requires a decision, on our part, to become part of a community, to work to grow within that community and to help build that community. Connection counteracts disconnection. The active process counteracts the inactivity of allowing life and the world to happen to us.

Who Is Your Community?

Where do you find community? How to you connect and grow in a community? We are already connected to many communities by the very nature of communities. We are human beings – we have interests, visions and goals. By the very nature of that we have a connection to communities that are already established. As human beings, we were created to connect. We are meant to be in relationship, not just with God but with one another. Communities are natural places for us. However, in the midst of the world we have found ourselves in, many of us have become discontented, disconnected and divided. There is no judgement in that statement. But it is necessary to state, because until we become aware of our current condition, we won’t be able to make a decision to change that condition.

Step 5 – Communities: Identifying Where You Need To Grow and Build

So, now for the fun part; it is time to find your tribe and start connecting. As mentioned earlier, this is an active process:

1) You need to make a decision to have an impact on life and the world around you, rather than just letting it happen to you

2) You need to identify your community

3) You need to commit to growing as an individual within that community

4) You need to commit to helping build that community

Do you have some communities in mind that you can step into and start growing in and helping to build? Or do you have a community on your mind or in your heart that you haven’t yet come across; a community that you believe is yours to build? Now is the time!

Step 6 -Community: You Can Start Here

This blog is a community waiting to be built. Although we are not physically together as I write and as you read this blog, my hope and vision for this time and space is that through it we can build a community; a real connected community. I can’t emphasize it enough, I want to hear your voices, answer your questions and talk about topics that are of interest to all of us. Over time, I want us to grow together, supporting and encouraging one another, as we share our hearts, thoughts, vision for our lives and the lives around us, our dreams and the goals we will put in place to get us there.

Community: What's Next?

Together, in this time and space, we can build community. Drop some comments in the comment space below. Let me know how you feel about what we are talking about. Throw in some suggestions for future chats.

Also, you can always be in touch with me through email or on my Facebook Business Page. Let’s make this a two way conversation! Let’s build a community.

Until Next Time

Communities happen in many different times and spaces. Step out today and identify at least one community to really commit to. Jump in with both feet and see what amazing things happen. I would love to have you actively join and begin building this community as well. Let’s see how many comments we can drop in the comment space below!

Well, it is that time again! I’m out of tea and so it is time for me to go. So happy you dropped by! Remember, if you are on my blog, there are directions to subscribe to receive this blog in your email, on the right hand side of the page. Otherwise, click here to go directly to my website.

Also, since we are building community, share the blog posts with your friends. By clicking on the symbols below the blog you can share with your friends, via email, Facebook, or Pinterest. Or direct them to the blog at https://www.laurie hopkins.ca

If you are interested in more Devotional reading, head over to my Facebook Page where you will find a Weekly Devotion early every Monday morning. Click here to go directly to Weekly Devotions with Laurie.

From my heart to yours!

Laurie

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June 24 2019

My Journey, Your Journey (Sharing Our Stories)

Hello my friend – you know the drill – grab a cup of something hot in a fabulous mug and take a seat! How was your week? What exciting things were you involved in? Were you able to find time to check out the last post on Time as a Mindset? If not, scroll down further and you’ll see it there! I have been thinking a lot this week about My Journey, Your Journey; about sharing out stories and the challenges and benefits of doing so.

What stories do you have to share? What stories do you want to really listen to? The sharing of our stories is an anchor of hope and unity in the Body of Christ. If I can be real and comfortable in telling my authentic story and you can be real and comfortable in listening to my authentic story and vice versa – then we can begin to connect at a deeper and more meaningful level. Community and unity will follow.

We All Have A Story

We all have a story; every single one of us. As a matter of fact, each one of us has numerous stories that add up to the one large story that serves as a map of our journey. Most of us understand that we have a story, what many of us struggle with is not whether or not we have a story, but rather the significance of that story. We wonder if we have a story worth sharing. Sometimes we even understand that our story is worth sharing, but then we lose sight of the importance of stepping out and sharing that story.

Why Share Our Stories?

Why should we bother to share our stories and listen to the stories of others?

1) The sharing of stories brings significance to our lives.

2) Framing and sharing our stories builds courage, vulnerability and resilience within us

3) Our stories encourage others

4) The sharing of stories creates community leading to unity

5) Sharing our stories teaches us to be listeners as well as talkers and receivers as well as givers

6) Character is built through the reflective process necessary in the framing and subsequent sharing of our stories and listening to the stories of others

Past Experiences With Sharing Our Stories

What has happened in the past when we considered sharing our stories? We often wait to be asked to share out story. Some of us have never been asked to share our stories. This may have happened for a number of reasons. People can get caught up in their own stories. They may believe/assume that they already know our story. Or, they may want to listen to our story but they don’t know how to ask without coming across as intrusive.

When it comes to listening to the stories of others, sometimes we haven’t really known how to listen, receive, or respond. This has resulted in discomfort, because although there was an effort on both parts, to tell the story and to listen, both of us walked away feeling uncomfortable and unwilling to go there again.

Changing Our Experiences - Authenticity and Framing

The first step to a positive experience in sharing out stories is to begin living and then sharing from a place of authenticity. Our stories are easier to share when they come from our authentic lives, not lives that are built up and covered up.

Then we need to learn how to frame our stories. We need to become courageous and brave enough to dig deep for the real in our lives – to find the real essence of who we are and the stories that support that.

Once we have begun to frame our stories, we can begin sharing. A big piece of sharing our story is carving out time to allow sharing to happen. Time is of the essence. Not allowing the time and space for sharing to happen can be one of the biggest barriers to effective sharing and listening of stories. If you haven’t read last week’s blog post on Time as a Mindset that is a great place to start!

Changing Our Experiences - Encouraging And Listening

While we are preparing to share our stories, we can start encouraging those around us to share their stories. When they see us living from a place of authenticity and digging deep for real in our lives to begin framing and sharing our stories, they will be encouraged to begin on their journey to do the same.

We can also begin really listening to the stories of others. We must be mindful to never get so caught up in our own stories that we neglect the stories of others. Having the opportunity to listen to the stories of others is a gift and a privilege. Hearing is a passive process. Listening is an active process. If we begin to really listen to others, receive their stories with grace and actively engage in the exchange, the sharer of the story will feel cared for and will be more likely to step out and share their story again and again.

Why Does It Matter?

Why does it matter? Is it really necessary to share our stories and hear the stories of others? YES! Life is a blank book full of pages waiting to be written on. We often consider the living of our life all that is necessary to fill in those pages; but in reality, until we have shared that life, those pages only tell half the story! When others only watch our life and never have the opportunity to hear our stories that leads to assumptions and misunderstandings. Assumptions and misunderstandings about our life encourages us to build facades to make things look better and walls to keep others from getting too close to see the cracks.

The telling of our story encourages authenticity, transparency and clarity around who we are, where we’ve come from and where we are going. The hearing of our authentic story encourages a deeper and truer understanding of the same.

Future Possibilities

When people come together and tell their stories and listen to the stories of others, new stories and future possibilities are created. There is power in coming together and sharing. Coming together allows for the power of creativity and ideas, the power of validation, the power of collaboration and the power of support and encouragement.

The listener is encouraged and the sharer is validated. Both have a good experience and they feel empowered to go out and engage in the process again. There is a more accurate and gracious understanding of one another. Community and unity are created and grow. And the process continues. People began to connect in a meaningful and deep way. People began to carve out the time and space necessary for continued connections. The future possibilities are endless.

What Next?

Would you like to learn more about writing, telling and sharing your story? Would you like to learn how to really listen to the stories of others?

Let’s get on board and become fabulous storytellers and expert listeners – we live the material everyday – let’s begin to frame it, let’s put it on paper, let’s put it to hearts and minds and in doing so, build a community that lives in unity and can’t easily be pulled apart.

I would love to hear from you! Drop a comment below. Tell me about your experiences with sharing your stories and where you would like to go from here!

Until Next Time!

Well, my friend, I can see the bottom of my tea cup which tells me it is just about time to go. I am sure happy you took the time to drop in today.

See you again next week, same time, same place!

This week, begin to think about your experiences with telling your story and listening to the stories of others. There is more for all of us if we commit to changing our past experiences and move into a future of possibilities through sharing out stories!

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

Laurie

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