Being in a community

Being in a community
By Nicholas Teo
BEING in a community is never an easy thing to do, especially in a community that is basically Christian.

I suppose the biggest obstacle is the presence of something call "Group Dynamics". This is loosely defined as the interactions between people within a group.

After the last few years of experiences within church groups like CSS and St Stephen, I have come to realise that despite all the teachings of Jesus in the bible, the natural laws of human dynamics play a very integral part. In fact, sometimes playing a bigger role than that the ultimate law of "love".

I suppose its just not possible to accept everyone within a group. There would be a main clique, with peripheral people who comes as and when they feel like it. And of course, there would be bound to be outcasts. I figured that its something that is very common in all community, and it takes alot of love, patience and reminders that we have to be tolerant and be compassionate to those people. But do we?

My take is that the Leader of the group plays a very important role, the leader must first be conscious of this "group dynamics" and be aware that there are the 3 main group of people and be sensitive enough to be able to fuse all 3 types into 1.

Afterall, if the leader is not able to control the situation, then who knows if those in the 'main-stream' might slowly become the 'peripherals' or become the 'outcast' when time goes by. And if the leader is able to control it well, we might even see those 'outcast' being more welcomed and be in the 'main' group.

So basically what a leader can do is that beside being a social butterfly, it is to draw attention of those peripherals and outcasts to the cliques such that it can be a concerted effort to be more loving and tolerant.

But on the flip side, what I feel is beyond our control is the "chemistry" between people. I guess in order to be in a relationship, there must be communication. If there is simply nothing to talk about, then how can the relationship grows?

Another contributing factor is the protagonists themselves. If they themselves do not want to open up, how can anyone penetrate in? I know of a certain someone or rather a few of such 'someones' that always justify themselves by saying they like being alone, and that they are 'like that'.

So the most important thing a leader must do is that they have to explain to everyone, no matter what group they belong to, that there is a part to play if you want to belong in a community. We should never stick to ourselves or within the comfort zone.

After all, if being in the comfort zone is what we search for, then we need not even be in a community at all.

In my opening line, I said that being in a community that is basically christian is difficult, and that is because unlike being in a secular group, we cannot let things be.

We just simply cannot say...

I'm like that.

Nicholas Teo was from the Catholic Student's Society when he was in Nus, now he is currently in the youth group of St Stephen....
click on 'permanent link' to read the full article...

About this Blog

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD OF HOPE

Welcome!

This blogsite is named after the book "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" by pope John-Paul II.

Here is a place where young Singapore Catholics can post write-ups about the Catholic Church, so that ideas can be shared and discussed. It started when Nick mentioned to me an idea for a blog, and I thought that hey why not just do it? So here it is! Do note that to post, you have to be registered on this blog; please just tell us on the tagboard if you wish to be registered. Feel free to post comments as well.

While the quality of the articles here may not be the best, this should be forgiven - all writers improve with time. Instead, I hope everyone can share with open hearts on issues which are important to you. We pray that the pieces here will be spirit-filled, thought provoking, and action inspiring.

Cheers,
Chris Yeo

Greetings!

Indeed, to follow up with what chris yeo said. This idea was mooted a while back, but like all great ideas, we often wait too long or wait for someone else to start it. But it will come evetually.

I suppose we can write about anything in this blog, particularly those that concerns the church. Although some of them could be criticisms. However, I suppose if these criticisms could lead to constructive consequences or deeper understandings of doubts, it could only be for the better.

Whatever the topic, whatever the comments, let us do it with a single-mindedness that it might benefit someone or for ourselves, but most importantly it could lead to the evangelitical movement that is sorely lacking in our lives right now.

With love,
NickTeo

Greetings and Thanks

I am grateful to have been invited to this blog.

When I first mooted the idea, it was with a view towards providing our friends stuggling to live the faith in the uni to working world transition make some sense of their experience. I had hoped that by sharing our own reflections and experiences, we might help others see that they are not alone in their struggles.

I had also hoped to have talented writers use their gifts to help, even in this tiny way, the Church's apostolate to young adults on the cusp of full participation in that sometimes quite frighful thing called the world .

Good articles are really the result of two things: thoughtful & prayerful reflection, and hard work (especially in terms of study, research, & editing). It is my hope that we will see good material here both on the local Catholic Church, and the universal Church.

This blog should serve as a stimulus for further study and deeper reflection. If even one of every two viewers of this blog are thus stimulated, I will be satisfied.

My thanks to you for reading this.

God goes before you, and walks beside you. Go in peace.

ChrisOw

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New Web Address

Dear Friends,

The new official name of this blogsite is "Threshold of Hope", after the pope's book: Crossing The Threshold Of Hope.

The new web address will therefore be ThresholdOfHope.blogspot.com. Do update your links!

Greetings and Thanks

I am grateful to have been invited to this blog. Now I'm not sure if Anthony who runs the Prompt website is actually ok with us borrowing his name.

When I first mooted the idea, it was with a view towards providing our friends stuggling to live the faith in the uni to working world transition make some sense of their experience. I had hoped that by sharing our own reflections and experiences, we might help others see that they are not alone in their struggles.

I had also hoped to have talented writers use their gifts to help, even in this tiny way, the Church's apostolate to young adults on the cusp of full participation in that sometimes quite frighful thing called the world .

Good articles are really the result of two things: thoughtful & prayerful reflection, and hard work (especially in terms of study, research, & editing). It is my hope that we will see good material here both on the local Catholic Church, and the universal Church.

This blog should serve as a stimulus for further study and deeper reflection. If even one of every two viewers of this blog are thus stimulated, I will be satisfied.

My thanks to you for reading this.

God goes before you, and walks beside you. Go in peace.

Greetings!

Indeed, to follow up with what chris yeo said. This idea was mooted a while back, but like all great ideas, we often wait too long or wait for someone else to start it. But it will come evetually.

I suppose we can write about anything in this blog, particularly those that concerns the church. Although some of them could be criticisms. However, I suppose if these criticisms could lead to constructive consequences or deeper understandings of doubts, it could only be for the better.

Whatever the topic, whatever the comments, let us do it with a single-mindedness that it might benefit someone or for ourselves, but most importantly it could lead to the evangelitical movement that is sorely lacking in our lives right now.

With love,
NickTeo

About this blog...

Welcome!

This blogsite is named after the book "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" by pope John-Paul II.

Here, we post write-ups about the Catholic Church, so that ideas can be shared and discussed. To post an article or comment, you have to be registered on this blog; please post a request on the tagboard if you wish to be registered.

While the quality of the articles here may not be the best, this should be forgiven - all writers improve with time. Instead, share with open hearts on issues which are important to you. We pray that the pieces here will be spirit-filled, thought provoking, and action inspiring.

This blog idea was discussed between Chris Ow and Nic Teo some time back. While talking with Nic today, I thought why not just go ahead and make it a reality?! So here it is. The template is all temporary and can be updated with new colours and new pictures. Please give you comments on what else this blog needs and what designs you might like!

Cheers,
Chris