Community = Secret Weapon
In a Zoom training meeting, writing coach Chad R Allen reviewed the process of self-publishing his book.
You can find his impressive bio at https://www.chadrallen.com. With a listing of his numerous roles within the writing and publishing field, he has helped others to succeed. As he expands his own expertise, he is practicing what he has preached for many years. In working through the recent process of self-publishing his own works, he gave his Zoom class handy tips and expectations and shared freely what he had learned.
One statement he made spoke to my soul.
‘Community is the real secret weapon.’
As he explained the stages of self-publishing, I was astonished by the numbers of people he involved and consulted from the beginning to the end. He said many times how important it was to have others encourage, critique, edit, and review his work.
Being quite an unsuccessful writer, I found his words contradictory to my personality and mindset. Obviously, I need to kick my independent streak to the curb.
When he spoke of his secret weapon, I thought about the blogs I’ve been writing about Community as I try to negotiate life in this place and this time of my life.
Our community is filled with people from many backgrounds with different life experiences. As activities are planned and executed, the goal is to make Community feel more like a cohesive group of individuals who care about each other. As we share conversation, we learn from one another and understand the things that made us who we are today. Hopefully, we perform self-examination rather than critique and edit others’ behavior to make this Community a place of welcome, tolerance, and love. I truthfully have not seen very many people here critiquing others or trying to edit another’s thoughts or beliefs. We all are learning to write new chapters in our lives.
But as I thought more, I think many here have secret weapons guiding us to grow from drifting organisms to develop into a healthy, unified entity. The featured image projects my thoughts. Many of us have a strong, Biblical worldview based on the truths of Scripture. Our secret weapon is based on Jesus’ words in Matthew 22. Jesus said the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself.
If these two are fulfilled in the heart, all the other commands fall into place. If we share God’s love with everyone here, our secret weapons will chisel away the trials we face and ease the physical and emotional pains of others. The lonely or depressed will be cheered, and the weak will find strength needed to take another step. Our love can reassure others to face the future with Community support. We should live daily with the attitude that through the truth of God’s word and with His Spirit within us, we can help this Community thrive.
Blessings
Kara Beth
