This chapter starts out strong, bringing our intention to Christ’s humanity, in which we are called to his example, but also the example of those who originally followed him. We see throughout Acts the life the apostles lived with one another; as the book points out, “they had all things in common.” Not only in spirit, but physically they made sure none went without. The metaphor of the body used throughout the New Testament and in this chapter is a great visual when understanding this way of life in community. One part of the body can not ignore the needs of the other parts, or else the whole body could suffer as a consequence. The only problem with that idea is that we do not do it out of necessity but out of our love for one another. This is why we are not just any community but a community joined together in God, joined together in love incarnate, in that we are less concerned with how we are affected if something is wrong within our community but more concerned with how our companions are affected out of pure concern and care for their wellbeing. This is why we are the light to the world, the purest example of love that has no ulterior motive but to lift up our neighbor.
In our community, we do not share physical things in common. However, through the Founding Document, we share our selves, our morals, and our missions in common to the greater goal of lifting up one another and being there for everyone in the community, both individually and as a whole.
“Our surface potentialities are for selfishness and greed, for tooth and claw. But deep within, in the whispers of the heart, is the surging call of the Eternal Christ, hidden within us all. By an inner isthmus we are connected with the mainland of the Eternal Love. Surface living has brought on the world’s tragedy. Deeper living leads us to the Eternal Christ, hidden in us all. Absolute loyalty to this inner Christ is the only hope of a new humanity. In the clamor and din of the day, the press of Eternity’s warm love still whispers in each of us, as our truest selves. ”
from The Eternal Promise by Thomas Kelly
I appreciate your pointing out the distinction between the ways our bodies function and how a community functions. The body, when healthy, is automatically oriented toward homeostasis and does certain things automatically when things go out of balance or are damaged to return to a state of health/homeostasis. Communities are not quite so automatic. As you point out, we do things out of love – that implies intentionality. That is exactly why we refer to ourselves as an “intentional community”. It doesn’t happen automatically; it takes intention, attention, and work; all of which are hopefully grounded in love. I believe love is the basis of religious community. Historically, some communities have failed at being loving, but I pray love remains the intentional basis for our community.
In the first Listening in 2022, Companions were asked for three words of the top of their head to describe our community. The primary words were loving, family, home, joyful, grounded, respect, and validating. Those things do not just happen. They are the result of the Spirit’s life in us and the result of intentionality and work as we cooperate with the Spirit. They were not automatic, but I thank God every day for the gift of all of you who make this community what it is.