Fellowship

I’ve been thinking a lot about fellowship lately. Specifically the fellowship that comes with belonging to, and participating in, a community.

For most of my life, fellowship has had a very church-specific meaning. First, it was a plac – Fellowship Hall – that was synonymous with cookies and punch and lots of kids running everywhere. Then, it became part of the religion itself. It was something important to do … to gather in Christian fellowship (meaning gather with those who believe to learn and share).

I knew the word. I knew what it meant in my sphere of experience. I thought I had it down. Maybe I did, and maybe I didn’t. I never really had cause to think to much about it until recently.

I have a colleague who has an amazing way of putting things into perspective at just the right time and with just the right words. And, while we typically discuss and try to solve work-related issues, I’ve found that the majority of the time the conversations are applicable in other parts of my life as well. These kinds of unintended consequences are most welcome!

Recently, the topic of fellowship came up and, after the conversation, what I’d ” known” seemed to fall short of the mark. [This is, frankly, the coolest part about learning - and perhaps about fellowship itself.]

In a nutshell, my concept of fellowship was about getting together in a sort of friendship – sort of a social event with purpose. Folks coming together to enjoy each other’s company … a generally warm and fuzzy existence with like-minded people.

That type of fellowship is fine and, I suppose, even important. But, I’m wondering how purposeful it is in the world in which we currently find ourselves.

I’ve been reading a lot lately about the state of the world. And, as I’ve written before, it seems to be a mess. [Scary. Ack.]

I’ve also been digging into how folks are using social-networking sites and the so-called Web 2.0 technologies to create the idea of community on the web. There are a lot of really cool things going on – and the cool typically will bring out the scary for a time!

I’m seeing, in my old definition and experience of fellowship, that there’s not a whole lot of room for growth. Warm and fuzzy doesn’t necessarily breed opportunities for learning and innovation. This growth usually comes out of comparatively harsh environments – places where almost everything is questioned. [It strikes me as I write this that mold grows in warm, undisturbed places ... I don't want to get moldy! I don't think that's conducive with the point of fellowship!!]

So, I’ve begun to look fellowship a bit differently. The rethink started with a single conversation and continued as I continue with my almost constant and insatiable need to discover of the possibilities of community in the world online (which started around 1995 and has only increased).

My new understanding about what fellowship is (and can be) included a look at literature. [Frankly, I think most things could begin with a look at literature and I'm not sure why I'm always so surprised when a good book teaches me something long after I've read it.]

In The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkien places 9 folks on a mission – a majorly intense quest filled with urgency and danger. Quests of this nature are certainly not uncommon in literature.

But …

In the journey of  this chosen 9, Tolkien gave readers an unforgettable definition and description of the power of fellowship. He gave this particular set of 9 characters a mutually valued, common goal. [OK. still not necessarily mind-bending with regard to fellowship.]

But …

The 9 were remarkably different. They had vastly different lives, experiences, belief structures, and loads of differing opinions. In fact, some in the group were sworn enemies. Far from being warm and fuzzy, this group was fairly hostile toward each other. Not an easy road to travel but together, for the good of the goal, they did some great things.

In the midst the synthetic process, [er, uh, synthesizing all of this information into something that I can wrap my head around and use in more global situations] I decided that fellowship, Lord of the Rings-style, is probably a key to the success of a great many things.

The beauty of this kind of fellowship is that we can do great things together in spite of the fact that some of the group don’t like each other all that much. It means that we need to act civilly, but can be honest about what we believe. We can celebrate strengths and lift up weaknesses. It means that fellowship, while a vitally important part of religion, also transcends it.

It means that positive can come from conflict. We’ve got a lot of conflict and disagreement these days. There is a lot to gain from overcoming it – regardless of how difficult the journey may be.

I’m finding hope in that.

Hmmm … fellowship of the hopeful? No, fellowship of the positive. Hmmm … no, not quite right.

Yeh, I think there’s a story waiting to be written there!