Petaluma is not alone - A post from a guest -
Today, I had a very interesting telephone conversation with Richard Flyer about the following “flyer” (no pun intended) about a neighborhood event event he initiated last year. We are sharing it with our local neighborhood action groups just in case they wish to join this event that is being promoting elsewhere in the country.
Why should we wait for someone else to hand us a better world?Most of us hunger for a peaceful and loving community and we seem to be waiting for societies’ leaders to make it happen. But, leaders can’t address our root problem: our culture encourages us to focus on our own narrow agendas and “going it alone.” We have become a nation (and world) divided into “sub communities:” by religious beliefs; political ideologies; economics; and special interests. As a result, we have seen an increase in spiritual and social isolation; and loss of connection and caring among neighbors, family, friends, and community in the last thirty years. There is an old Proverb that speaks to us— “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Who wants to build a shared vision today? A good way to start is to find shared concerns and action that most people can get behind. To do this, we need a conscious commitment to go beyond the comfort of our particular groups and bring others together, especially those who are different.The most practical way to do this is to get to know the person right across the street—your neighbor. You might think of your neighbor as only a barking dog. It’s sad, but while we may travel around the world, we may never take a few steps across the street to get to know our neighbor.Please consider joining local residents everywhere to have some fun and participate in “Get To Know Your Neighbor Day” on Saturday, June 23rd, 2007 by hosting a pot-luck, block party or coffee klatch. You might just go out and meet your neighbors by knocking on their door and saying hello. Neighbor Day is more than just a one time party. Last year, we heard many stories of people’s lives improved and some that were turned around by Neighbor Day. Neighbors found common ground and common needs they had, such as watching each others homes, children, and animals, and also found ways to be of service to each other. On any street, maybe next door, there are “invisible” people who could be on the margins—last year, people were able to offer a hand to seniors who are alone; the sick and hurting; youth in need of a mentor; single mothers; widows; folks one paycheck away from homelessness. By bringing people together to help one another with common needs and making a difference, we put a face on the person next door and help people reconnect with the larger community they participate in. All of sudden, the invisible becomes seen and we all benefit.These uplifting experiences happened, not with a formal program or because of money, but because average people like you and me stepped forward and reached out to make a difference. And, even though it is a wonderful thing to go to
By connecting neighbors and others through shared virtues — love, integrity, courage, service and respect— we can begin to build a solid foundation to solve the communities’ (and the world’s) problems from the bottom up. Imagine if we each took responsibility to be a beacon of hope and light right on our own street. A ripple effect of love will be generated, releasing a chain reaction that can create a shift in each of our communities’ and eventually the world. Truly, peace in the world will not be given to us by governments, the UN, or others. With God’s help, we are the ones that we have been waiting for. Put your event ON THE MAP by registering your gathering at http://www.itstimereno.org/neighbor_signup.asp For questions, contact rflyer2@yahoo.com or call 775-851-2993. For thirty-seven ways to build community, click here.—link to http://www.ccnreno.org/rflyer/37buildcommunity.pdf
