The notion of community can feel quite abstract at times. When I think of community the first image I see is a tapestry.
Thousands or even millions of threads, all woven together. Each thread a single colour and not very strong. But when interlaced with others, transformed into something of beauty that carries much weight.
So it is with community. And by community, I don’t just mean those occupying space around you. I mean those you’ve chosen to weave your life together with. Those you have allowed to shape you. Those whose tapestry threads have bled onto yours through shared life experiences, altering the colour of your thread, and theirs, forever.
If tapestry to describe community still feels abstract, consider a second image - a mosaic. Formed through intentional placement of numerous tiles, side by side, edges touching. Each tile unique, and each tile its own whole, yet also part of a greater whole.
So it is with us. We are all individually a whole - our own person (yet made up of many parts - maybe the theme of a separate column). And as individual whole ‘tiles’, we form part of a greater mosaic. Many actually - we are a tile in our family mosaic, the mosaic of our workplace, that of our physical neighbourhood, or community associations we lend our ourselves to.
The great invitation for each of us in all of this is to consider - what does my unique tile look like? What am I doing to work on my tile? Not focusing on how beautiful or successful other tiles might be. Or how they are contributing to the greater mosaic. Instead, sitting with and reflecting on the beauty of my tile. Embracing the unique qualities and contributions that only my tile can bring to the collective. And holding space for the beauty and contributions of other tiles as well.
We need each other. That’s why community connections are so important. In whatever form.
Our call to action is two fold.
First, embrace the uniqueness of you. Of me. We cannot fully accept and embrace others without learning to accept and embrace ourselves. Working on ourselves, taking time for ourselves, may feel selfish. Something I still work on in my own life. In reality though it’s the opposite - getting through our own hangups allows more of the gold inside of us to pour out on those around us. Allowing the essence of our tile to shine through and benefit more than just the person in the mirror.
Which leads to our second call to action - are we willing to be part of the greater mosaic? Intentionally placed alongside others, forming a common work of art, writing a common story.
The reality is, it’s going to happen anyway. So let’s consider:
What picture do we want to create together? What do we want our community mosaic to reflect back to us and to future generations? A year from now. Ten years from now. Or even in 2050.
