Community: The Beauty and Power
- Stacy Williams
- Oct 3
- 2 min read
I've recently been reflecting on the concept of community. We celebrated Timber Days this summer in Priest River. It's two days dedicated to celebrating and showcasing how our area first supported itself. Timber continues to be a thriving industry in our town. The wood grown here is used in a plethora of ways. From the obvious in the construction of homes, furniture, boats, toys, and paper to the surprising such as cleaning chemicals, food additives, and product packaging.
What struck me was how special it was that the community came together to celebrate. Energetic early risers gathered to run in the 5K. Families met with friends and enjoyed the huckleberry pancake breakfast. Children cheered as they pounced on candy thrown from the parade participants winding their way through town. Horses sidestepped at the blasts of trumpets and tubas. Evening found multitudes cheering for their favorite old car and listening to modern and classic songs played by enthusiastic bands.
Community can also mean meeting up with a local kayak group to explore the numerous lakes and rivers in our area. It is coming together to support a beloved community member who is going through cancer by participating in an auction and dinner or donating goods or money. It includes stopping by a local coffee shop buying a book from a local author to enjoy with your beverage. Community is offering a helping hand to bring in hay or grain when an accident or illness sidelines the owner during harvest season. It's taking cookies to a memorial dinner, so the family can focus on the myriad of details surrounding the passing of a loved one. Community means sharing the extra garden bounty with the local food bank or a neighbor.
Community is showing support when the unthinkable happens: a devastating wildfire, horrific flooding, a fatal accident, a senseless murder. Community is when individuals band together to assist in rebuilding lives, giving hope, sharing in the pain, holding hands, blotting tears, hugging.
We were meant to live in community. We are encouraged to lift up one another, to celebrate the wins and to commiserate in the losses. To extend that helping hand. To practice kindness, compassion, and grace. To play, dance, sing, work, and have fun together. To appreciate or practice athleticism at a football game or enjoy an ice cream cone.
Community allows us to share our heavy loads. My friend, Courtney Dailey, just published a book called God Stories. It details the many ways God used community and the power of social media to bring people together and rebuild homes for multiple families in Tennessee and other areas affected by the flooding earlier this year. All volunteer. All at no cost to the homeowner. The last I heard, they were on house nineteen! This is what community can do.
What does community mean to you? Comment below or on social media.
Great ideas shared about how community ministers to each of us. Timber Days has always been such a wonderful time for our local area. So thankful for the community we live in and for the blessing it is to know your neighbors and be there for each other when the need arises. Thanks for another inspiring post!!