Getting involved in some way or another is important. Caring enough to take the time to reach out each and every day brings real joy to life. One's attitude about life becomes lighter and we are able to cope with everyday matters with an outlook of love and peace. Send a card to someone today for no reason at all, say a prayer for a stranger you see on the street. No act is ever forgotten or too small.

My thoughts on community are who are the dozen or so people who would show up to visit you if you were in a hospital, and needed some prayer and cheer? That is your community. Likewise, who would you put yourself out to do the same for??

I guess irc friends could call you on the phone or send flowers if unable to come in person, but mostly, I see community as a local thing, where people can literally lean on each other.

True community includes everyone. It is living in amoung the general population and not separately in isolation. This does not mean that we don't pick those who will be closest to us both in space and in our hearts; but our responsibility is to 'Serve the People' and the people includes the world at large.

"Serving the People' does not mean that we wear ourselves to a nubbin and neglect ourselves. In fact it is important that we give ourself nurturing care and that we live our life in balance. Then we can serve from a place of fullness and not depletion.

The "Grandmothers" web site includes some guidance on living in balance. Eventually I want to add the Grandmothers' teachings on service.

Well the first thing that comes to my mind is to be surrounded by Spiritual people ... People that are awakening and want to awaken others. I want it to be full of creativity, art, music and dance. I want it to be surrounded with the beauty of nature. I want it to be an educational place where learning is valued and sacred, and where Spirit is honored. I want the energy to be of Harmony & Balance.

Which brings up the principle of Sharing, where sharing becomes the primary exchange. I think sharing is all about helping each other, where caring and kindness are the norm. Just think how it would be if everyone helped each other when we needed an extra hand, a hug, an experience that would make us happy, this world would be a much better place. So why are people so self absorbed, not caring for the person standing right next to them? Why is that?? What will it take for people to see that we are all connected?

What is involved in turning a collection of people into a true community? I think it is a common goal or vision that is deep within our beings and wants out to be manifested. And the only way it can be is by working together, bringing our energy together in a kind and compassionate manner without judgment and fear of one another. So I am calling out to those that feel the same way so that we can manifest. And that is what this Newsletter is all about so please come forward if you find truth in this . All we have to do is Love, Love will set us free.

Community is the set of people one cares for and chooses to share one's life with in bad times and well as good times. It is the group of people one feels comfortable enough with to be oneself and to express all that one has to express. In my case, thus far this is a small set of individuals. I have yet to truly develop a collective group around me. I seek to do so with all of my Heart ... and I know that the effort I am applying now will have its desired results.

Community is supportive and unconditionally loving. In assisting one another and sharing whom we really are, we cooperate and develop relationships we can truly count on. For one who has been a Hermit most of my life this is not something I am used to, but I am finding that it is very easy to do ... all it takes is a change in focus to WHAT CAN I DO TO BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS ... what do they need that I can provide. Even better if I can provide the service because I know it needs to be done and I feel moved to do it, often without even being asked to do it. The bottom line is living in a manner that makes a positive difference in the lives of others. The thrill of seeing that your efforts have truly made such a difference is without compare ... and it is surprising how easy it can be. Money isn't necessary, what is of value is time provided and little things that truly show you care. These work wonders on people's state of being. The more we do this, the easier it is for people to get to and stay in states in which their spirit can truly manifest ... and when that happens, the MAGIC appears and life become the MIRACLE it was always meant to be.

Community provides the vehicle for bringing people together to do great things, to build needed support structures, and to truly create an environment that fosters the growth of individuals and allows them to be all that they can be. The synergy that comes from cooperation and working together is beyond imagination. Through the efforts of such groups, spirit can manifest in ways that go beyond our wildest dreams. However, it takes trust, faith and commitment to make this happen. We need to realize that we really are interdependent ... being but strands in the web of all life. Further, we need to realize that ALL benefit when we choose to cooperate with one another rather than compete and struggle so much.

Community provides the environment in which we are able to get our needs met ... physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. But our interactions must be balanced. The easiest way to make this so is to live by the principle: NEVER TAKE MORE THAN YOU GIVE. The supply of what can be given is varied and nearly endless. We can be as creative as we choose to be in sharing our love, spirit, and energy with others. It is amazing to see the resources that a collection of people have, and more amazing still to see what those collective resources can manifest when people cooperate to do something they really believe in. That is one of the key things we are hoping to demonstrate by getting people to come here; share of whom they are, what they dream, and what they believe in; and then meet others of like mind with whom they can cooperate to bring about great works ... new expressions of spirit, and more importantly new infrastructures in which both individual spirits and the collective SPIRIT can more fully express in flesh.

Yes, community can be all these things and many more if only we choose to make it so and if we devote our talents and energies as necessary to make it so. It is not enough to just think of what might be. We need to take the next step and walk our talk ... taking the action required to build the foundations under the castles we construct in the air. This world is ours for the making. We create our own reality HERE and NOW. It is time to do this more consciously and to work together in a manner that really makes a difference and empowers ALL to fully express whom that we are both individually and collectively.

It all starts with sharing and caring, with helping and assisting others, and with cooperating with others to mutually express in ways that you would not be able to express alone. In doing so, we turn life into the art is was always meant to be and we become the true masters of our destiny. Whatever you are moved to do, do it with LOVE ... for that alone makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE in the world.