In America we prize individualism, valuing our self-reliance. And perhaps some of us grew up in dysfunctional families so we didn’t learn to trust, felt we had to be strong and had to do everything ourselves. But as I learned years ago on an Italian train, individualism can take us only so far on our life’s journey.
When I boarded the train in Genoa that morning there were five people in our compartment, two rows facing each other, our bags in the overhead racks. As the train rolled through the Italian countryside, we pretty much kept to ourselves, reading our books and newspapers, occasionally dozing off as the hours went by. It was past noon when we learned that the dining car had failed to connect and there would be no meal until we reached Rome that evening.
Then something surprising happened. A French gentleman took out a long loaf of bread from his bag. A German woman took out a jar of strawberry jam that sparked like rubies in the sun. I pulled out a round of Swiss cheese and my pocket knife. A British woman and her daughter took out a box of chocolates.
What had been five frustrated, hungry individuals became a community. We enjoyed the crusty baguette complemented by the mild, buttery cheese and the sweet strawberry jam. Passing around the box of chocolates, we began sharing our stories of where we’d come from and where we were going. Our impromptu picnic remains one of the highlights of my journey.
In the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the Bible tells how Jesus fed the multitudes from a basket containing only five small loaves and two fish.
Imagine what miracles could occur today if we could only begin to transcend the walls of fear and mistrust that separate us. By combining our individual resources, the parts that make up the larger whole, we could solve untold problems by creating new circles of community.
Take a few moments now to reflect.
- Close your eyes and think of a time you experienced your own sense of community.
- What did it look like and feel like?
- Breathe in that vision with a sense of gratitude.
- Then in a long, slow out breath, send your gratitude out to the world.
If you like, take some time to write down what this community experience means to you.
Namaste,
Diane
(photo credit: By Father.Jack from Coventry, UK – bacon, turkey and swiss cheese baguetteUploaded by Fæ, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24935910)