A Community Dream

I have a dream to create an inclusive community center, a place where all are welcome regardless. It would be focused on faith, where any one could hold a worship meeting safely, freely in a conference area of the center. It would not matter identity, color, or belief, any could visit without judgement as a rule, just don't harm anyone. There would not be judgement, because it would be understood that all are welcome, and those attending would know that, and be expected to respect the others or choose to go somewhere else. Promoting kindness would be a key component in such a place. It would be a beautiful place, where an emphasis on freedoms to worship as we believe could be realised. Where all are universally welcome, and not made to feel as though they are not allowed to belong or attend. Neighborly love here would be met at a true place of acceptance. We do not all have to agree, be identical, or fit a mold in order to believe, love, or accept each other. We are all human together, and that deserves mutual reciprocal respect.

These notions, thoughts, concepts, and words are actually not new ideas! There are countries based on it, spiritual beliefs and practices speak of it, and yet we find that there are those who do not feel welcome, those that are judged unfairly and unjustly. We still judge others that are different to our eyes, ideas, and feelings, we find fear, discover doubt, and the permit the unknown to rule over our perceptions, that if it is strangely unfamiliar it must be bad. Leaving there to be those that still are feeling unwelcome, unloved, undesired, and unaccepted. But our perceptions do not have to encourage such reactions, and those judgements do not have to be acted upon. We could choose a different response, decide on a different reaction, and change our behaviors. There is no real reason that all should not have a place where they are truly welcome, because we do all belong in this world together. And, I think a Community Center to serve all universally as a goal, is just one way to give to all within a community.

We spend more time passing judgements, rejecting, isolating, ostracizing, excluding, and hurting each other, instead of bringing together, promoting community, sharing freedom, and appreciating that we all have something good to contribute to our community and world around us. I have been left out, rejected, judged, and even ostracized, and I am not a stereotypical example at all. But, I am different, believe differently, feel differently, have limitations that make me different, and so first hand I have felt all those terrible not belonging, unwelcome intentions.

Differences should be celebrated, respected, honored, and loved. They are what make this world colorful, beautiful, and incredibly wonder filled. I make it a habit to always include everyone. I don't want people to feel unwanted, or left out. Maybe someday this universal community place of worship will actually exist, not so much in a place, but in our hearts. And, from our hearts we might welcome all with kindness, compassion, and grace.

We should always be open to including others in spite of our uniqueness, and cherish what we might learn from one another instead. We could grow as a people together in a positive community, where we all do belong. That is a dream for true kindness. I believe we all really can be kind, even if it is just a conscious choice from our minds and not fully held in our hearts. we can choose to be kind. Be kind! It will surprise you in where it might lead, and neighborly love could be real for us all.