Invested in Your Community?

I believe I have pointed out elsewhere on this blog that, with few exceptions, it is important for us to think of "home" as the place where we now live, not the place where we grew up or the place where other people may be living. We need to form our own traditions and bond in our own way with our immediate family and our immediate community. We need to be invested in our community. Of course, some of us still live where we grew up. We've been living perhaps in the same neighborhood or on the same piece of land for decades, and have a huge family circle around us. If that is the case, then we have lots of motivation to be invested in our community; but some people in such circumstances have another problem. They realize where home is; but they get so caught up in family or personal security, comfort, and enjoyment that they forget to be truly invested in the wider community. So how do we get invested in the community? I felt a deeper sense of community involvement when Lydia and I bought our first house. To me, this decision to buy rather than rent a house was a way of saying that I really considered myself part of the city. It was a way of laying down some kind of roots, settling in for a while. People invest in their community when they become actively involved with the school system. This is particularly appropriate, of course, for those who have children. Lydia and I do not have children; but I have participated in school activities, talking to kids' classes about blindness, becoming involved at one point in a Boy Scout troop, trying to stay aware of school events, etc. People become invested in their community in a very direct way when they start a business, contribute financially in a significant amount to volunteer organizations, churches, or major causes; and if major financial contributions are not practical, a significant gift of one's time or experties to these areas of community life can often be just as important. We can become significantly invested in our community by joining civic, business, trade, or service organizations that take part in community affairs. As a minister, I have often participated in local clergy associations. I've been involved in the Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations where I felt my abilities and interests could be most useful and appreciated. All of these things are important and we should give serious consideration to becoming invested in our community in ways that are suitable to our particular situation in life. We may even decide to get directly involved in the political process by running for office or working in a political campaign. I did something on Monday, however, that is probably as important as any of these already mentioned. I registered to vote! We were at the county courthouse so that we could get license plates for the car. It just seemed to me that it was such an obvious opportunity to register. I couldn't let it pass. Of course, Lydia registered, too. It was very simple; and we'll get our voter registration cards in a couple of weeks. There are elections here in November of this year. When we vote, it's important that we take part, not only in the national and state elections, but in the local elections, and even the most seemingly unexciting offices. Often, it's the people who hold the least noticed offices who may affect our daily lives and dealings with government the most. We need to try to familiarize ourselves with the candidates and the issues. It's relatively easy to be aware of the national issues that are making news; but being invested in your community means that you also become aware of the issues that make a difference in your town or city. From a reformed Christian perspective, this has sound theological principles behind it. As Christians, we are to operate in the world. We live in the context of community--neighborhoods, towns and cities, counties and states. While our main task as Christians may be evangelism, we are also seeking to bring Christian principles to bear on every aspect of life. We are to do this with integrity, clear thinking, a positive attitude, and good humor. Ultimately, when we bring Christian principles to bear on the life of a community, the effect will be to raise the quality of life for everyone. We can do all this without being "wet blankets," or "killjoys." We don't have to be eccentric or fanatics. We just need to be true to our calling as a free people, saved by grace. So are you invested in your community--its daily life, its prospeirty, its general welfare, and its future strength and vitality. There are many aspects to developing a healthy community? Are you making it happen where you are?