The Impossible Community

At tonight’s Community Celebration Service we watched a You Tube clip of an “impossible relationship”: a crow that befriended and saved the life of a helpless kitten (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JiJzqXxgxo). Then, as we reflected on the challenge of being a radically inclusive community while also being a safe and caring space for each individual, we recognised that we are an “impossible community”. We are individuals whose behaviours can frequently leave others labelling us as ”impossible”. We have impossible aspirations of celebrating the Sacred together across very different faith traditions. We have a Rabbi employed by a United Church. We sit side by side at meals with folk who are from wealthy suburban homes and folk who have not had a home for decades. We bring our struggles and brokenness and discover we provide inspiration and hope for others. We bring our strengths and gifts and discover we are  the ones who find healing. 

We are the impossible community who dare to live an impossible dream. With Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha” we reach individually and collectively for the unreachable star:

“To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I’m laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star”

It is an incredible privilege and gift to be part of this impossible community!