two intersecting thoughts on community from leighton @ the heresy & paul @ prodigal (his 9/5 post & answer to karl’s first question). i thought i’d tie the two together.

paul is speaking about the need for intentionality in community: the participants in a relationship must be deliberate if there is to be any significance. community doesn’t just happen. it must be sought out, worked out.

but how, in this world of suburban sprawl and over-stuffed schedules, do we make time for significance? how do we develop and maintain the basic rapport that permits significance? i see my brother for 2 hours on a sunday (60-90 minutes of which i am pre-occupied with programming, but that’s another topic). i must connect with him - and everyone else! - in that time only, b/c we are too busy to meet more often, thru the week. how do i maximize this time? how do i get more quickly to the point of significance?

enter leighton’s blog… well, not just his blog; everyone’s blog. and instant messaging. and message boards. and e-mail. etc. these virtual tools do not replace face-to-fact interaction (FTF), rather they allow FTF to take on significance more quickly, more often. i’ll keep the moniker “virtual,” because these tools vitrually multiply time. it takes time to build up rapport and trust, and time is a precious commodity. it is rare that my brother & i have the same hour free for conversation, and when we do much of the time is spent (re-)establishing report. thru the use of virtual tools, we may share a conversation using different, non-coexistent blocks of time. i post at lunch-time, he reads and comments at dinner-time. i e-mail on friday; he responds on monday. rapport is maintained - even strengthened - despite the lack of FTF. significance will also occurs, b/c as leighton notes it is easier for some to be open thru written media. in this way, when FTF does occur, we may jump straight into significance.

time must still be made for FTF. personally, we re-arrange our budget so that we can afford for me to meet people during weekday breakfasts and lunches. still it can be hard: we are in the third week trying to set up a dinner-date with another couple.

furthermore, we must still be intentional with our time. participate as much as you want virtually and FTF, but you will never reach the point of significance without intentionality.