I had a minor epiphany the other day. Well, really, it was one of those things I already knew in various forms, but it struck me afresh in a particular way this time (second minor epiphany: We humans are pretty forgetful. We need to be re-reminded all the time.)
During our Tuesday time of prayer and Learning Community, all InnerCHANGE teams are discussing and meditating on our commitment to simplicity right now (one of the seven commitments we make when we join the order).
And it hit me:
Simplicity is better in community.
One person living simply can come off as an eccentric hermit.
A community of people living simply is prophetic.
It makes more economic sense to live simply together (feed more people, share more housing space, spend less money.)
It makes more ecological sense to live simply together (share cars and utilities and gardening space.)
Community gives you built in accountability and encouragement and people to brainstorm with.
I first learnt this lesson in a very hands-on way when I lived for a season at Reba Place Fellowship, an intentional Christian community. Following the model of the early church in the second chapter of Acts, they share their cars, money, housing, the works—and they’ve been doing it for over fifty years. I was there as an intern to learn how in the world they do it; I think they would say community comes first, and choosing to live simply together makes sense because it serves the needs of the community.
However, even if you don’t share housing with other people, as my Sociology 101 professor said at Wheaton, “Everyone living on your block doesn’t actually need to own their own lawnmower…”
Community is, not coincidentally, also one of our seven commitments along with simplicity. Might be there for a reason….
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