Community as a Joint Work of Art

Imagine a small community of people who treat each other with dignity and respect and at least a modicum of love. It can be a family, a business, a town. It will, according to human nature, be a diverse group of people. They agree, they disagree, they sha

Imagine a small community of people who treat each other with dignity and respect and at least a modicum of love. It can be a family, a business, a town. It will, according to human nature, be a diverse group of people. They agree, they disagree, they share, they own, they fix problems, they make mistakes, they forgive, and they are forgiven. They are unique, each of them, but one, all of them, like tiles in a mosaic. Mosaics aren't seamlessly perfect like a photograph. Mosaics are works of art.

Imagine living in such a community, this joint work of art, where you can be you, but you don't have to fight for love or respect or your basic needs. What you want is up to you to acquire, but what you need to survive is there as a birthright. Isn't that the way of decency, after all? You wake up in the morning, your basic needs met. Upon that footing of security, you step into the day. Does that day feel different than the day you now live? Would you live that day differently than you will live today?

We can be kind to one another without losing anything. We gain, in fact; everyone gains when kindness is generously expressed. Think about it. Hasn't that been your experience? Aren't you happier and strengthened in the company of people who treat each other well than you are in the company of people who harm each other, whether with fists or guns or words or attitudes?