Is Community as Important to Us as It Should Be?

I read a book a while back called "Same Kind of Difference as Me". It is the true story of the intersecting lives of a multi-millionaire art dealer  & a homeless man. This book crushed the common concept of homelessness & laziness going hand in hand. It renewed in me the desire to give people the benefit of the doubt....a trait that is easy to forget for an ER nurse who frankly...deals with alot of bullcrap.  Recently a sequel to the book was released with additional stories from these two incredible people, titled "What Difference Do it Make?"...and yes there aren't any typos there.  This book is yet another treasure that gives me reason to believe again in the importance of being involved in your community. This short passage reminded me, again, of the community we should fight for. This particular passage was written by Denver Moore, an illiterate African American who lived homeless for years but now gives hope to those whose shoes he has walked in....

If all the Christians - and I mean all of 'em-- got outta the pews on Sundays and into the streets, we'd shut the city down. We'd shut down hunger. We'd shut down loneliness. We'd shut down any notion that there is any such of a thing as a person that don't deserve a kind word and a second chance.  

                                                 (What Difference Do it Make?, Ron Hall & Denver Moore)

In my quazi quarter-life crisis I feel a certain emptiness & disconnect from my community. Recently at church our pastor spoke about how insanely important it is to be involved in your community. Funny, (or not at all) I had kinda overlooked the importance since graduating from college a few years ago.  My focus has been more concerned with what my community has to offer me....rather than what I can do for my community. (sorry for the inevitable Kennedy reference). I just wonder if we all took Denver's idea to heart and focused one day a week on giving ourselves to our community - what kind of change we would see.  Could we end homeless for the most part? Could we change thousands of lives? Are we willing to give up our time to see that our neighbors aren't in need of an open ear or a warm meal?  I'm challenging myself to commit to my community and I hope those of you who are reading this will hold me accountable of this pledge. (Yes, you.) And...I'm hoping maybe some of you will want to join me in my efforts to create change and affect the lives of those who haven't heard a kind word lately & haven't been given a second chance.