Organic Community: Language and Resources

In chapter 9, Myers suggests that we must move from noun-centric to verb-centric in our use of language. Words that previously haven't been verbs (e.g., Google) become verbs to bring a connotation of action. Myers suggests that we must consider small groups in a verb-like way. By this he means that we must see small groups as people becoming. There is no easy way to summarize this chapter because what Myers is urging is to reconsider language so as to shape the way we think. However, in order to do this, he must use language in a way that he is not totally advocating doing. He still has nouns; he still uses subjects. He admits the difficulties of this chapter at the outset. This was a good chapter, with an interesting approach. It is rather abstract and suffers from that abstraction, but I don't think Myers would mind. Part of changing the way you use language is reading unfamiliar uses of language. In a way, this whole book is an exercise in changing your language about small groups so that you will speak in a new way and thereby change your worldview.

Myers' final chapter is on abundance and believing that resources will present themselves when the time is right. This is a good chapter for me to read, because I tend toward conserving and designating resources. I rarely think in terms of finding available resources or that resources will be available as the project moves forward. I think this chapter needs to be balanced with aspects of the chapter on growth, however, a good reminder overall.

The goal of Myers' book is to help people move from being a programmer to being an enviromentalist. I like this approach. This book, pointing to the point of chapter 9, has helped give me some new language for community. It has encouraged me to continue being an environmentalist in my church in ways that I have been doing, and to become more diverse, divesting more responsibility to people for the community they have and want.