For a Common Good
Reflecting on the role of Spirituality in Rural Communities
Spirituality is an asset that can be found in every community, and Ogallala Commons describes it as “the web of relationships, connections and practices that knit together persons, community, the environment, and the cosmos”.
In rural areas, especially ones like my own, the church plays a huge role in a community’s spirituality. As history shows pretty clearly, this has been a really great thing (for education, language, literature, governments, etc)…but also at times a really not-so-great thing. People have argued over their perceptions of the correct form of “spirituality” since there have been people to argue. I think, however, we have a tendency to forget what can happen, what is happening, when we shut our mouths about our differences for a moment and do good things. This doesn't mean we have to compromise our beliefs. It means that we step outside ourselves and our arguments and treat people like people.
There are less than 300 people in my hometown. Last I checked there were at least five churches. And a number more just a twenty-minute drive away. It’s pretty clear that while they have many things in common, there are also things on which they don’t agree.
However, every 5th Sunday evening, we all get together. We sing, we tell jokes, we catch up on the latest news, and of course, we eat. We also raise money for a “transient fund” that helps travelers needing food, gasoline, car repairs, or a place to stay for the night. Every week, we have a community youth group, led by the pastors of two different churches—and those same pastors spend 5 days of the summer taking those kids to a youth camp in another state. During the community festival I mentioned here, we've had a community worship service to conclude the celebration. And these are just a few notes in a long list.
I recognize that many places represent a much wider range of beliefs than mine, but at the risk of sounding overly idealistic…it seems to work out for the community a lot better when we all take time to love people—regardless of our disagreements with them.
Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. -Prayer of St. Francis
This is the fourth in a series of posts on the 12 Assets of the Ogallala Commons Commonwealth. Read the rest here:
