Heartbroken for Community: a Reflection

How do you help a community full of requirements and empty of belief in itself? When the events and meetings are supposed to be times where people with a common goal come together, celebrate, get to know each other, and deepen friendships?

From the outside, this inviting community seems like it is full of life, excitement, friendship, growth. But once you're in, the facade disappears and you see it for what it really is. Hollow. Difficult. Under-committed. Discouraging for the few who do believe in it. No one shows up. When they do, they don't want to be there. I don't want to be there. Why?

It is not an individual's fault. Poor leadership made the newcomers' experience something less than what it should have been. The first impression is powerful. That attitude has carried.

The slate can't be wiped clean. The writing is there, and we just have to continue the story. End in a better place than where we started.

How do you change something when the actual structure of the thing you are trying to change isn't working for you, but against you? You don't have the means to change the structure itself.

You are as powerless -and powerful- as an individual can be.

Will others believe in the new story you are telling?

Growth takes time. I heard that from a pastor once. Those who do believe are trying to change the community. The potential is there!

One foot in front of the other, hand in hand.

Growth takes time.