{"id":736,"date":"2014-12-23T23:55:12","date_gmt":"2014-12-24T04:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.joshuastairhime.com\/?p=736"},"modified":"2018-12-04T22:58:49","modified_gmt":"2018-12-05T03:58:49","slug":"community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.joshuastairhime.com\/index.php\/community\/","title":{"rendered":"Community (DOP #23 2014)"},"content":{"rendered":"

I might get to add a few photos to this in a few days, but I don’t want to spoil the surprises in store for those attending Dayspring Christmas Eve services tomorrow. \u00a0Check back soon! \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The last 2 weeks have been remarkably busy.\u00a0 I went from being unbelievably not busy, to suddenly so busy that I basically didn\u2019t see my family for 2 weeks, since we live in the same house, I think that might give you an idea of my schedule.\u00a0 A large part of the busyness of my schedule the last 2 weeks, was related to it being the Christmas season and volunteering at church to help with Christmas Eve services and preparation. \u00a0I did the math and I think I have been at church for more than 11 hours of rehearsals, 14.5 hours of services, 9 hours of set\/effect construction, and 4 hours of video production and editing.\u00a0 That works out to about 38.5 hours of volunteering at church in the last 3 weeks.<\/p>\n

The best part of those 38+ hours is the fact that I am not serving alone.\u00a0 For each hour I have put in, someone else has put in at least one of their own.\u00a0 From musicians to greeters, cooks to teachers, nursery workers to tech guys and gals, there are probably hundreds of people giving of their time and talent to help make our church services a reality.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if I could ever really wrap my head around what it really takes for a church to function well during the Christmas season.<\/p>\n

At church, my role tends to be primarily related to tech.\u00a0 I sometimes troubleshoot weird lighting problems, help change batteries in microphones, and I occasionally help create videos or assist in minor set construction stuff.\u00a0 Our level of technical production has greatly increased this year, and the ambition of the tech crew has really blown me away.\u00a0 We are doing things that sounded cool on paper, but I did not really expect to see happen.\u00a0 It has been pretty incredible.\u00a0 I get to be a part of all of our services this weekend, and even though I know exactly what is going to happen, and when it is going to happen, I am still surprised by how cool it is.<\/p>\n

I could never make all of these things happen by myself.<\/p>\n

Even if I did somehow create an automated system that would automatically trigger all of our effects, lighting, and unmute audio channels, I can\u2019t play all of the instruments by myself, and I certainly couldn\u2019t be a greeter welcoming people into the service.\u00a0 I could make most of the tech stuff work without any help if I had 3 months to program everything and nothing else to do with my life, but the show still wouldn\u2019t go on.\u00a0 It is too much for one person.\u00a0 In fact, no one volunteer or even full time employee can pull off something so grand by themselves.\u00a0 I like to think that I could manage it, but the truth is that there is no possible way it could be done.<\/p>\n

This is the secret, and something we must keep in mind as we pursue peace globally and locally.<\/p>\n

You can never make everything happen by yourself.<\/p>\n

It takes a community of people, working together with a common goal to do anything of great significance.\u00a0 In this community, we find people with different talents than ours, we find people with different perspectives than ours, and we find people who have different resources than we have.\u00a0 These seemingly small distinctions between us are what make us stronger as a community pursuing peace. \u00a0An individual pursuing peace can achieve much, but a community pursuing peace can achieve more than the simple addition of our efforts would suggest.<\/p>\n

In fact, I get to watch this exact concept play out with readers of this website.<\/p>\n

Together, and as of this evening, we have raised $700 \u00a0to bring clean water to people who do not have access to it right now.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t have done that by myself.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have the resources on my own, but I did have a vision, and I shared it with a community of like-minded people.\u00a0 Once I shared my vision, I donated what I could, but it fell far short of the ultimate goal.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t do it on my own.\u00a0 Slowly, but steadily, others (most of whom remain anonymous) have chosen to give their resources to the cause as well. \u00a0Others have shared our cause with friends or family, and still others will bring us closer to the goal in the days to come. \u00a0I do not know for sure who most of these people are, but they have chosen to act in community to help bring a taste of peace to a community in need.\u00a0 I am honored to be a part of a community that is doing what it can to change the world.<\/p>\n

I could have never done this much on my own.<\/p>\n

The church I am a part of is made better by the combined service of individuals pursing the goals of the church.\u00a0 In just the same way our little group of readers and writers here are better as a community that is united in a goal of peace.\u00a0 Our church volunteers do not always agree on the what the best method is, and I am sure many of you do not agree with some of the statements I have made over the last 23 days, but we choose to put aside our egos in service of a larger cause.<\/p>\n

It has been an honor to serve and learn with each and every one of you.<\/p>\n

Lets share our visions for peace with each other, and pursue them together.<\/p>\n

Want to join the community?\u00a0 There is still time\u2026and we would love to have you.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

A community of people, serving a community across the world, with love.<\/p>\n

#25 Days of Peace (An Introduction)<\/a><\/p>\n

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