Community

September 18, 2025.

Experiencing the barrage of news that's filled with stories of leaders' corruption, insults, threats, lies, lawlessness, and othering makes me feel pessimistic about the world and her people. Especially when leaders encourage divisions. Their beliefs in “us” versus “them.”

While Jesus spent time alone, the Biblical stories show that he spent most of his time in relationships with people. Theologian Daniel Horan says that “everything Jesus communicated about how God wants us to live in community was about expanding our sense of belonging, inclusion and justice,” [1]. This seems opposite to what we’re exposed to in our 24/7 news cycle.

I depend on my times of stillness as well as various spiritual communities to lead me towards Jesus’ ideals for myself and humanity as outlined by Horan.

My cherished communities often remind me that there is love and compassion in the world. That most people are kind and empathetic. Are willing to help others. To work towards justice.

We have a basic need to belong. We flourish when we have people around to meet our social needs, those who are there when we need help. And to give us opportunities to help others.

Some of us have our needs met in churches or other faith-based communities and others find meaningful community in places like book clubs, quilting circles, sports teams, neighbourhoods, choirs, and so forth.

No matter where they’re found, healthy communities can provide spaces that are safe, predictable, and meaningful. And right now, these are essential in the 2025 world with its lack of safety and predictability.

Several blog readers have expressed their concerns around not being able to find safe or meaningful spiritual communities. I appreciate their vulnerability in expressing this. It’s not easy for us to recognize and articulate our need to belong [2]. Our need for intimate, communal experiences.

Other readers have recently moved into meaningful, helping communities as a form of resistance against the negatives swirling around us. They have chosen to enter groups that help others, that bring love into the world.

Gareth Higgins, co-founder of the Porch Community says that small, meaningful communities don't "just make the journey less lonely and more agreeable," but also "the intimacy of traveling with others is part of what makes life liveable,” [3]. Higgins also encourages people to create in-person and online weekly, small, meaningful circles, [4].

And so, if you'd like to reflect on your experiences with finding, (or not finding) sacred company that cherishes you, [5], I invite you to consider the following questions, [6]:

1. Who was the first friend you felt deeply known by? Were they known by you in return? How was intimacy cultivated?

2. Which communities are you currently grounded in? How do, (or don’t) the people in these communities understand you?

3. Might you consider creating or entering a new community?

I'd love to hear about your sacred community experiences if you feel comfortable sharing.

1. Daniel P. Horan, We Need a Theology of Abundance, April 3, 2025, https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/we-need-theology-abundance?utm_source=NCR+List&utm_campaign=c1661e6763

2. Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., London, UK, 2024, 65.

3. gareth higgins, how not to be afraid: SEVEN WAYS TO LIVE WHEN EVERYTHING SEEMS TERRIFYING, Broadleaf Books, Minneapolis, MN, 2021, 162.

4. See: https://www.theporchcommunity.net/porch-circles

5. Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human, 66.

6. These are based on Cole Arthur Riley's questions in Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human, 72-73.

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Maureen Fowler, a beloved spiritual mentor.