"A machine has value only as it produces more than it consumes - so check your value to the community." ~Martin H. Fischer

Today's prompt: Community.

Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

Community: 1. body of people living in one locale; 2. body of people having religion, ethnic origin, profession, etc. in common; 3. fellowship.

Or a really funny television show on NBC Thursday night's.  ABED: "I got self-esteem flowing out of my butt."  Show. Cracks. Me. Up. 

Or a really scary place in the book, "The Giver" by Lois Lowry.  "How could someone not fit in? The community was so meticulously ordered, the choices so carefully made."  Great book. 



Back on task.  Where have I discovered community this year?  Where do I have religion and ethnic origin in common?  Hmmmm, that's a tough one.  Where, where, where?  It's so easy, I'm rolling my eyes at myself because I'm so lame.  Church, of course, which also happens to be my place of employment.  The majority of us are white-bred and corn-fed.  Though I don't really feel part of the community. I work here. It makes it a little bit different. Becoming a member of this church was my choice.  That happened about 3 years before I actually started working here.  But since I've started working here, I'm certainly not as involved in things I'd like to be involved in.  Take music, for example. I'd love to be part of the choir, worship team, whatever.  But I've learned over my employment period, that if I'm in the building, people want me to work. I can't just come to choir practice and not be expected to be the church administrator.  I learned that the hard way.  It's unfortunate, really. 

I mostly find community on Facebook and with my friends.  Facebook is a wonderful tool to get in touch with people you actually like and to stay in touch with them.  Did you see the 60 Minutes episode with Mark Zuckerberg? They say they're going to launch a new look to our individual profile pages.  Typically, any changes made by Facebook haven't been that great, but I am looking forward to this one.  I believe the page is supposed to better reflect the person and who they are....their interests, their education, their job, etc. We'll see.  And my friends-- well, I think it's obvious.  We have great fellowship.  Spoons, anyone? 

I'd like to find, in 2011, a network of people who hold similar professional positions.  I feel like that's something missing in my life.  I'm the only one, at my place of employment, who can do what I do. It isn't like I can talk to another staff person, and have them fully understand what I'm talking about.  We all have different talents.  I'd like to be able to talk to people who have the same talents.  Maybe it would make me  feel less like Toby on The Office.