Reimagine My Community
You have been through the rigors of the Journey. If you engaged it in depth, it was rigorous. If it was just a quick read, it wasn’t engaged.
You and your team have a good sense for the Vision. They have discussed the principles of Reimagine for the Vision. You have come to a place of substantial consensus.
There may be some “fine-tuning” emerge as you come into the next steps (Grow, Harvest). Overall, you are confident in what you want to Plant.
This might sound almost, well, so obvious.
But it is the obvious that often trips us up.
If you want a tomato plant, you use tomato seeds. Or perhaps you purchase a small potted tomato plant from the nursery, farmers market or a friend.
The seeds of thinking for a Community differ.
For example, the type of workers needed in a retreat Community for burned-out office workers, doctors or nurses may differ from those needed for a working farm mainly focused on organic produce production.
Seeds carry genetic instructions, or codes, within them which instruct the plant in a multitude of ways. How to send roots down. How tall to grow. When to slow down due to lack of water or frosts. Thickness of the primary stem. Shape of the leaves. Color.
Detailed instructions? Yes, they are.
Similarly, detailed thinking, when built upon a quality vision emerging from re-imagination, is wise. Too much “flying by the seat of your pants” invites challenges.
Likewise, an inability to adjust to changing temperatures and precipitation causes a plant to die. Excessive rigors (“I am sticking to the detailed plan no matter what!”) can also cause problems.
Good project managers know to keep their eye on the goal but adjust to changing conditions.
We do not intend the Showcase and Idea Center as templates or blueprints for you to copy in painstaking detail.
HOWEVER, when someone or a group of individuals has come up with an over-the-top vision and idea, then there are FACETS that can inspire you.
Just as no two gardens or vineyards are the same, but often share similarities, so it is with Community.
It is critical to inject your own unique re-imagination, creativity, and vision into your endeavors. Make it something that contains your personal DNA. Embrace the good thinking and visionary ideas of others.
But follow your heart and dreams. Your Community will work better.
You need your own heart and dreams in it. It needs to be part of you.
You also will need that to help you navigate any hurdles or challenges that may arise.
Small seeds.
Big Vision.
Don’t look down on small things.
You started off life in a rather tiny form inside your mother’s womb. From there, you grew.
Sometimes, little things come our way and we push them aside.
Little seeds carry DNA and the engineering for greatness. While you may not hear the voice of the unborn child, the words and form of the child emerge soon enough.
Reimagined visions and dreams are like that.
They start as little seeds.
Little beginnings are valuable.
It is easy to miss the little seeds in our busy world. There is far too much Rat Race!
Little voices….
Plantings—be they seed, transplants, or cuttings—all require different approaches. The size and scale of planting has different approaches. Consider the different approaches using farming as an example.
Scale of operations creates additional considerations.
How will you prepare your soil for your Reimagined vision?
While we are using an analogy from the world of agriculture, these are timeless principles that apply to Community.
Different seeds often require unique soil preparations. Some plants require a more sandy soil, while others prefer a loam with a mix of sand, silt and clay. Regions with heavier rain may require better drainage.
Depth of quality soil and organic material matters within a soil profile. The layers are there for a reason despite modern tilling methods that disturb, excessively, the soil layers (or horizons). Play ball and work with nature and you and your garden or vineyard will benefit.
But we insist on shortcuts at insane paces.
We chase after money. We pursue frenzied schedules with more zeal than a Jack Russell Terrier who just ate a bottle of uppers. Then we catapult it all into life’s microwave and hit the nuke button.
We prop up deficient soil with artificial fertilizers and dine on carrots in name only (at least they are orange)—the tastes of our parent’s gardens have gone the way of the Dodo bird.
When you plant your Reimagine vision, take care not to rush the planting. Do your homework. Find out what really will work best for you and your team.
What soil is best for you and your team? What will you need for success?
Apply the principles learned in the earlier phases.
It’s not just about money….
During the Grow phase, some plants need a lot of work, water, and nutrients. Many variables come into the Grow area. If we do not consider this before we Plant, we can find ourselves boxed into a corner in a hurry. For example:
Even if your vision for Community is in an urban setting, have you considered “supply chains” for the basics (food, for example) and where workers can park?
Yes, we are VERY concerned about Climate Change and the impacts on Community.
