Today I listened to a podcast where a gal shared about her adventures visiting villages around the world to learn from their traditional lifestyles. In thirty minutes we heard about a tribe in Papa New Guinea, a village in Ethiopia and another in Thailand.
At the end of the episode the podcast host asked her about what she learned and how we can see those principles in her life. And I was struck by her words on community.
While not wanting to throw shade on introverts, she made the observation that she never encountered introverts in the healthy villages. Instead she noted a distinct regality in every individual and warmth. As well as a togetherness even as men and women fulfilled their roles. Beautifully.
Because of the communities she encountered afar she sees community as a vital part of flourishing human life. But here's what struck me.
“You don't get community by sitting around and waiting for it to come to you,” she said with the most warm, gracious tone, specifically to those who are sick or something and can't get out. Which should really convict those of us who can get out but complain about a lack of people in our lives.