06 21 11 Culture Building

Living in our bioshelter home has caused Cindee and me to think more about the importance of a relational worldview if all are to have a chance at good life. A relational worldview requires that we are aware not only of relationships with our own home and family, but also of those around us who are not blood relatives. As we were thinking about such things our third summer in the bioshelter rolled around, and we realized that we didn’t even know most of our neighbors. We decided it was time to do something about it.


We decided to hold a neighborhood party; after all one of the points of buying the bioshelter was to provide a place of hospitality. So we a big sign by the mailboxes: Prudhoe Bay Neighborhood Potluck Party at the Karns’ House (the bioshelter), and added the address, the phone number and the date.


When the day arrived we wondered who would actually show up, and what kind of people they would be. Even though the decision to host a party had already been made, I did worry a bit about a house full of mostly strangers. After all it is one thing to invite people you know into your home, but it is something else again to put out a blanket invitation. I have to admit, I put brand new combination locks on the doors so that we could have better security after the party. Besides, maybe no one would come.

When the time arrived the people did show up, however. They began arriving by ones and twos, and as they arrived, Cindee had them mark where they lived on a giant, hand-drawn map of the subdivision. About twenty-five people came from homes ranging from the bottom of the hill to the top. It was really a wonderful evening.

And what interesting people! One family was second generation residents, with a mini-sawmill and land for a huge garden. One family ground their own wheat flour and lived very simply,

practically off the land. One was an engineer, who could fix anything, and another was a flower gardener with the most amazing flower garden (we had wondered who owned that). What a group to meet!

In fact the evening was so great, we did it again at Christmas time. Many in that group have become friends, and the relationships continue to grow. Really, getting to know the neighbors has been a great thing; we should have done it sooner!


It occurs to me that there needs to be a way to encourage more neighborhoods to hold gatherings like this. Much of the distress people suffer in life, and much of the distress our planet is suffering, comes because people are not living out of a relational worldview. People are living for themselves, valuing privacy more than community and seeking happiness primarily through personal gain rather than the good of all. But we are all relational beings. Whether we admit it or not, all are dependent on an ecosystem to provide water, air and food.


Really, there is no such thing as a solitary individual. If we want the best life for ourselves, we need a relational worldview. And living in this world in a way that encourages people to discover the value of relationships is important. This is work worth doing, even though it means advocating for more relational connection and less rugged individualism. The change is important if we want people to live in a way that really brings a chance for good life for all.


Indeed, building good culture is essential work for human beings. And building good culture means living differently, so that we do not contribute to whatever is currently wrong with our society. As Jesus put it, “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is not good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (Matthew 5:13).”


Surely we are to live in this world in a way that builds relationships, and thereby builds a chance for the whole world.

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