Most people could hear, by a small popping sound, when someone else picked up the line; if they were courteous, they would ask “Do you need to make a call?”

I’ve heard one story where an older lady who couldn’t really get out of the house anymore, but had been a hugely popular, social “butterfly” in her time, would listen and sometimes join conversations all day long. No one minded because they knew her well and knew she just liked to be involved with the community. When the rotatory phones came (party lines were still prevalent), she was so disappointed, because she couldn’t hear the rings anymore and couldn’t tell if a call had come in or not. She became very depressed and lonely, isolated in her house. One day, as she was reaching for the receiver to see if anyone was on the line, she realized that the phone vibrated when a call came in even if it didn’t ring. Grabbing a shoe she never used anymore, she set up the heel on the receiver and waited for the vibration to knock the shoe off. Her system was restored! No longer lonely, the woman went back to her favorite past time- spending time with her neighbors!

When I look around us, at our busy lives, I’m often reminded of how much I need my community around me. Would I like to see the return of the party lines? No. But I do know that to have an authentic community that accepts who I am, provides safety in conversations and relationships, values my vulnerability, and bears my burdens and I with theirs…is truly community.

Look around you. Do you have that sense of unity in the loved ones around you? A dear friend of mine once said “I have many best friends”, not wanting to elevate any of her closest pals. I can say that, too. My authentic, close and personal community consists of my family members, the people I love and respect at my job, my friends from childhood, my relationships at church- all contribute to my sense of unity.

Who’s in your community?