#community

When we claim and constantly reclaim the truth of being the chosen ones, we soon discover within ourselves a deep desire to reveal to others their own chosenness. Instead of making us feel that we are better, more precious or valuable than others, our awareness of being chosen opens our eyes to the chosenness of others. That is the great joy of being chosen: the discovery that others are chosen as well. In the house of God there are many mansions. There is a place for everyone - a unique, special place. Once we deeply trust that we ourselves are precious in God's eyes, we are able to recognize the preciousness of others and their unique places in God's heart. ↗

— Henri J.M. Nouwen

#god-s-love #philia #life

A community that is growing rich and seeks only to defend its goods and its reputation is dying. It has ceased to grow in love. A community is alive when it is poor and its members feel they have to work together and remain united, if only to ensure that they can all eat tomorrow! ↗

— Jean Vanier

#poverty #wealth #love

They have taken the idea of nonharming, of gentleness toward the earth, to a very radical level. Even the weeds are not enemies. ↗

— Andy Couturier

#environmentalism #green #japan #sustainability #japan

Time is what we have in this life, and how we use it determines what our life is. ↗

— Andy Couturier

#environmentalism #green #japan #sustainability #time

Sometimes just to touch the ground is enough for me, even if not a single thing grows from what I plant. ↗

— Andy Couturier

#environmentalism #gardening #green #japan #sustainability

Happiness is good, but well-overrated: what we hate most are the very motivators that put us in gear. A man drifts along with little to contribute until something agitates him enough to make a difference, whether for himself or for his communities. ↗

— Criss Jami

#community #contribution #difference #drift #happiness

I want 'Flesh Of My Flesh' to be like my connection to the community, I want to say what's on my peoples' minds, soak up all their pain. I've learned that when I take it all in, I can make one brotha's pain be understood by the world. ↗

— DMX

#connection #flesh #i #i can #learned

Storytelling comes naturally to humans, but since we live in an unnatural world, we sometimes need a little help doing what we'd naturally do. ↗

— Dan Harmon

#human #humanity #inspiration #natural #naturally

If the people of God were to transform the world through fascination, these amazing teachings had to work at the center of these peculiar people. Then we can look into the eyes of a centurion and see not a beast but a child of God, and then walk with that child a couple of miles. Look into the eys of tax collectors as they sue you in court; see their poverty and give them your coat. Look in to the eys of the ones who are hardest for you to like, and see the One you love. For God loves good and bad people. ↗

— Shane Claiborne

#community #giving #jesus #love #change

I would like to do another piece of fiction dealing with a number of issues: Lesbian parenting, the 1960's, and interracial relationships in the Lesbian and Gay community. ↗

— Audre Lorde

#community #dealing #fiction #gay #gay community