1

The Importance of Building Community

I have found that becoming part of a community can be a surprisingly tough thing to find. If you were once in the military or you are currently in now, you understand that military families have an obvious connection, but when you are living in a non-military environment, it can be very different. You may find yourself immersed in any number of communities created by geography, workplace, church, family, but that does not automatically mean you know how to connect with them, or even that you want to.

There are some very common worries when it comes to building community (i.e., a feeling of fellowship with others due to sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals). For example, you may struggle with meeting new people because of being disappointed when you tried to reach out in the past. Being military or former military can be an obstacle in and of itself, as behaviors and attitudes that made total sense in that setting don’t seem to translate to the community you’re living in now. You may also be the type of person who likes to keep to yourself, and do not like the idea of having the attention of other people. You might even tell yourself now as an adult, that you really do not need the help and support of others.

But there are important benefits to building community. Did you know that a broad network of friendships can actually improve your health, support you during a crisis, and give a sense of purpose and optimism? It can help safeguard your neighborhood, support your faith journey, and provide insight and resources when you need it the most. When you step on cracking ice, you’re supposed to lie down, to spread out your weight so that there’s more ice holding you up. Community can be like that (i.e., give you more to hold you up when life is cracking around you), but not just for you, also for your family.

So, how are you supposed to find the people in your community who will make good friends and allies? First, do things that interest you, and see who else shows up. You can do this by joining groups at your church, or by seeking out community events related to a hobby of yours. You can join an intramural sports team, or a service organization.

You might be saying, “But what about my neighbors? I didn’t choose them, and I’m stuck with them.” That may be true, but it is still possible to seek common interests with the people you’re connected to by chance. Host themed parties. Start a skill share. Identify a problem in your neighborhood and seek people to help you solve it. Take the time to seek common interests with your spouse’s friends, and their spouses, too. This will make it easier and more rewarding to do things together.

Most often, the best way to take care of yourself and your family is to widen the circle. In fact, think of community as a cluster of overlapping circles that meet your whole family’s needs. A strong, interlinked community benefits everyone involved. This may surprise you, but you were never meant to do life alone!  In the book of Ecclesiastes, it says, “even though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” If you want to win in life you need to be part of a strong community and it begins by you making the effort to widening your circle.

God Bless,

Doug Hedrick

Comment(1)

  1. Cindy says

    Great thoughts

Comments are now closed for this article.