Life Under Pressure

Getting Involved

“Hermits have no peer pressure.” Steven Wright

Every now and then, I come out of my hermitage and bite off more than I can chew. I have to consider others, have to be sociable, and get involved in ‘community building’ projects that have nothing to do with my own little cup of tea. I grumble and carry on because I’m much more at home holed up sewing or writing, or brushing oak flowers out of Liza’s fur. This week is one of those challenging weeks: there’s the daily blog, helping my son haul ‘stuff’ from place to place, meeting with church folks about a literacy program, getting a much needed hair cut, participating in a fund-raiser at church, cooking for our young volunteers from Connecticut who are here for tornado relief, restoring the church’s labyrinth and creating green space. Suddenly, I’m under pressure.

Being ‘involved in the world’ requires a lot of energy. It would be much easier to stay home and tend to my knitting. Who needs the world anyway? Well…I do. I think everyone does. Involvement in the world is part of stewardship; it is part of being rooted in service. Being a hermit may take less out of me, but it does not fill my human need for belonging, or my community’s need for hands and hearts. As part of any community, I am expected to contribute to the greater good of the whole.

I once knew a man named Stan, who lived literally on the periphery of our church community. He showed up when there was food, and when he needed something from us, but otherwise, kept to himself. He never volunteered for anything, or offered to help with any project. Yet, when he was dying, it was church members who took care of him, who made sure he had enough to eat and who bought his medicine. That's what a caring community does. We are the hands and feet and eyes and ears of the One we follow. So, I’m working this week. There will be other weeks to be a hermit...thank goodness.

In the spirit,
Jane