tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28333398.post4343728124262130322..comments2023-03-24T00:53:13.504-05:00Comments on you gotta be kiddin!: Community vs. Toughing it outUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28333398.post-8887266703173242162007-12-29T00:38:00.000-06:002007-12-29T00:38:00.000-06:00I have always struggled with community and commitm...I have always struggled with community and commitment to a group. I am fiercely individualist. <BR/><BR/>A book that has meant a lot to me is called "The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and the Risk of Commitment" by Daniel Taylor. It is basically about risking commitment to God in the face of uncertainty with a chapter specifically on how reflective Christians can be in community without being suffocated in it.<BR/><BR/>There is a song from a band called mewithoutYou that I always found compelling yet also felt myself guarded against called <I>Torches Together:</I><BR/><BR/>Why burn poor and lonely?<BR/>Under a bowl, or under a lampshade,<BR/>or on the shelf beside the bed<BR/>where at night you lay turning like a door on its hinges<BR/>(first on your left side, then on your right side, then your left side again).<BR/>Why burn poor and lonely?<BR/>Tell all the stones we're gonna make a building.<BR/>We'll be cut into shape, and set into place<BR/>or if you'd rather be a window,<BR/>I'll gladly be the frame.<BR/>Reflecting any kind words,<BR/>we'll let in all the blame<BR/>(and ruin our reputation all the same)<BR/>So never mind our plan making.<BR/>We'll start living!<BR/>Anyway, aren't you unbearably sad?<BR/>Then why burn so poor and lonely?<BR/><BR/>We'll be like torches!<BR/>We'll be like torches!<BR/>We'll be like torches!<BR/>Oh, we'll be torches together, torches together!<BR/>We'll be like torches!<BR/>We'll be like torches<BR/>with whatever respect out tattered dignity demands.<BR/>Torches together, hand in hand.<BR/><BR/>Why pluck one string?<BR/>What good is just one note?<BR/>Oh, one string sounds fine I guess, and we were once “one notes”<BR/>We were lonely wheat, quietly ground into grain<BR/>(What light and momentary pain!)<BR/>So why this safe distance, this curious look?<BR/>Why tear out single pages when you can throw away the book?<BR/>Why pluck one string when you can strum the guitar?<BR/>Strum the guitar!<BR/>Strum the guitar!<BR/>Strum the guitar!<BR/>Strum the guitar!<BR/>With no beginning, with no end<BR/>Take down a guitar and strum the guitar!<BR/>Strum the guitar if you're afraid,<BR/>And I'm afraid and everyone's afraid<BR/>and everyone knows it, but we don't have to be afraid anymore.<BR/><BR/>You played the flute but no one was dancing,<BR/>You sang a sad song and none of us cried.Paul M. Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04880809369067743828noreply@blogger.com