I've learned to dislike the use of this word. It means way too many things to too many people. It's just like love. I love ice cream. I love my husband. I love your boots. I love that show. I love my church. All very different kinds of affection, yet I used the same word. I hate English. It's so limiting. It's amazing I lasted so long teaching it.
But, community is one of those words that's tossed around by politicians and pastors, teachers and parents. Your community could be your neighborhood; the town in which you live. Your community could be those you work with. Your community could be a network of your friends and family. Your community could be the religious organization you belong to. Your college friends. A group of families you decide to "do life" with. People, both near and far, that share the same belief system as you. Could be your nationality, your roots; inherited, adopted or otherwise. A "sense of community" insinuates a warmth coming from people interested and vested in yours and your family's well being. The term could be both welcoming, and exclusive. It can ostracize or encourage a sense of belonging. See what I mean?
I don't think there is one definition of community, but the one unifying theme throughout all definitions is the people. In order to have community, there must be people. People we feel something for. A connection to.
When Rich and I moved to West Orange, we moved for the community. Meaning, the kids in our neighborhood with whom we've developed relationships with over the last 5 years. We moved for the community of our families, both close. We moved for the community of the town with the desire to see it flourish and grow.
When we decided to attend our church, the community was what appealed to us. Broken people with loving hearts who wanted to get to know us. Laugh with us. Pray with us. Compare tattoos. Get a burger and a beer. Paint a picture. Debate politics. Write a song. Figure out what this God thing is all about and how we can apply it to our lives because when it comes down to it, it's the only explanation for a sunrise. Why bad people are capable of doing good things. Why we're all here, on earth, in the same boat. And sometimes we need other people to remind us of that.
My kid is still waking up every two hours at night. We haven't had a decent nights sleep in going on a month. I've got vampirish dark circles- just in time for Halloween, I suppose. On Thursday some friends were getting together at someone's house, as is our custom twice a month to hang out, eat, talk about our head colds and our kid's ballet classes and maybe a Bible verse or two. I arrived early, as Rich stayed home with the baby so I could remember what it felt like to 15 pounds lighter, walked straight into the kitchen of my friend's house and when asked how Ellie was sleeping, fought back tears of exhaustion. That night, my friends poured me a big glass of wine, we sang a few songs, they prayed for peace for our family and for sleep for the little one and I went home feeling a little more hopeful. That's community.
I suppose it's our job to define the word, just like it's our responsibility to make the distinction between the love of one's husband and the love of Cherry Garcia. Though, it is a close call.