In all 25 volunteers gathered last week in combination with a handful of skilled tradesmen and a number of ex-offenders in order to help put the finishing touches to the new Linhay building at Embercombe.
We were all joined in a common purpose to push the building into its final stage of development, where cob was built up to green oak lintels, reclaimed bricks started to become basket weave walls and slats of lath became laden with lime plaster. All were eager to roll up their sleeves put on a hard hat, high viz jacket and get stuck in.
Little did we realise though at the time what we were doing as we started to complete one job after another of this inspirational piece of architecture. Such a place as Embercombe has a majesty all of its own. Nestled within 50 acres of pristine nature, ancient woodland abounds, a lake sits in the valley, fields of naturally growing fruit and veg adorn the slopes, orchards aplenty and resplendent flora and fauna are all about. It is a scene somewhat reminiscent of the opening ceremony of last year's olympic games, before the industrial age sprang forth. A green and pleasant land.
In such a place, working alongside kindred spirits, at some point in the week it all comes home to you, 'this is the community I want to be a part of for the rest of my life,' all working together towards a common goal with really nice people helping each other out, and then the reality dawns, of having to leave this eden and return to 'normal' life in a matter of days or even hours. Consequently the tears start to spring forth in abundance as we weep for our deepest longing.
Like nine pins, any number of us fell during the week we spent there together, once we realised how easy it was to be ourselves in such an environment and bring forward our special gifts. Be that in coaching, counseling and healing, singing around a camp fire, writing and reading poetry, having a dance, playing with a ball or just enjoying life and what it is to be human.
In such a place people are conscious, they are aware and a large portion have done a considerable amount of personal development on themselves. Decisions are made fairly quickly and unilaterally all working with nature very much at the centre of their thought process and for the benefit of all the community including our fellow creatures in as sustainable a way as is possible.
Contrast this to another community build I am involved with at the moment. I sit on my local town team which is one step off the council itself. A similar group of volunteers gather every 4 to 6 weeks, some councilors, some business people, some community representatives but where very few if any have done any personal development work on themselves whatsoever. It is like wading through treacle with concrete boots.
Not that this is anybody's fault in particular, it is a societal thing, where we think we are alright Jack, but in actual fact we are all wounded animals affected by our childhood conditioning and if this is never rectified causes us to defend our positions vehemently around a committee table or board room with no idea about the bigger picture of becoming whole ourselves, or working with a common purpose in mind. We are reluctant to give up our positions of power that we have fought so hard to get into and which our ego endeavours to protect for us.
Real community building however (and every business in effect is a community) lies in an opening up to the truth, the truth that lies at our very essence of who we truly are and what we long for and a willingness to express these things openly to others, where we truly care about our fellow human being, everything in our ecosystem and the planet as a whole. Where we really care for our community and our work and all what we wish to achieve.
If you wish to create such an awareness for your own life or business where you are prepared to state your deepest longing to your fellow employees and staff members for the community that you want to be a part of, perhaps then there is hope for us all in bringing the polarities of places like Embercombe and city life closer together.
If you care to comment on this blog why not do so
here or if you wish to discuss how you yourself may benefit from getting in contact with your deepest longing why not
contact me now, my coaching may be able to help you.
Until next time.
Much love Sx.
