Water and fire flow in opposite directions.

A sense of belonging.

Feeling embraced and emboldened. And once in that embrace, the flow of energy is enough to compel. It makes people do things they would never have imagined on their own.We have all experienced it. The euphoric tidal wave of being a part of the crew. The excitement of being on the winning team. But, what guides the energy? What gives the community its intention?

We have all experienced it. The euphoric tidal wave of being a part of the crew. The excitement of being on the winning team. But, what guides the energy? What gives the community its intention?Building a community requires rituals of sacrifice. A good community is built from rituals of self sacrifice. An evil community is built from rituals that sacrifice others. Over time, in a good community, as people humble themselves and join in, the community slowly gets larger and the energy builds into a torrent. In an evil community, it is the sacrifices that slowly get larger and the energy of community erodes and splinters.

Building a community requires rituals of sacrifice. A good community is built from rituals of self sacrifice. An evil community is built from rituals that sacrifice others. Over time, in a good community, as people humble themselves and join in, the community slowly gets larger and the energy builds into a torrent. In an evil community, it is the sacrifices that slowly get larger and the energy of community erodes and splinters.

What gives a good community its intention? Nothing. The small amount of energy that comes with each person’s intention to humble themselves and make the sacrifices necessary to work with others are like rain drops coming together to form a mighty river and vast oceans. The energy of the water is the spirit, and the physics that dictates how it flows can be called God.What gives an evil community its intention? The idea that we can know how and where the water should flow. The illusion that a manufactured vision of the community, a material vision or goal to be achieved, has more value than the sacrifice of a single person. It is not having and sharing a vision of how things could be arranged better that begins the evil. It is the assumption that the vision should be imposed against the will of others.

What gives an evil community its intention? The idea that we can know how and where the water should flow. The illusion that a manufactured vision of the community, a material vision or goal to be achieved, has more value than the sacrifice of a single person. It is not having and sharing a vision of how things could be arranged better that begins the evil. It is the assumption that the vision should be imposed against the will of others.It starts with a little gossip at the dinner table, berating and undermining a person not present to give those around the table a sense of superiority. Then it grows into a ritual, like enjoying late night TV hosts and comedians ridiculing everyone with persistent and increasing venom. Isolated instances of police brutality and mass shootings become routine and are accepted as part of the blame game; fuel for the flames of ridicule into small firestorms. Finally, the firestorms come together and increase the sacrifice to the level of genocide and the inevitable war that follows.

It starts with a little gossip at the dinner table, berating and undermining a person not present to give those around the table a sense of superiority. Then it grows into a ritual, like enjoying late night TV hosts and comedians ridiculing everyone with persistent and increasing venom. Isolated instances of police brutality and mass shootings become routine and are accepted as part of the blame game; fuel for the flames of ridicule into small firestorms. Finally, the firestorms come together and increase the sacrifice to the level of genocide and the inevitable war that follows.In the natural evolution of things, if a good community grows too rapidly the waters will become turbulent in the effort to find balance. During these times, people will always make plans to control the waters and return the community to a peaceful productive state by guile and force. For the unaware, good begets evil. For the aware, as the waters grow turbulent, the battle is always to maintain our routines that reassert our humility and sacrifices to building a good community.

In the natural evolution of things, if a good community grows too rapidly the waters will become turbulent in the effort to find balance. During these times, people will always make plans to control the waters and return the community to a peaceful productive state by guile and force. For the unaware, good begets evil. For the aware, as the waters grow turbulent, the battle is always to maintain our routines that reassert our humility and sacrifices to building a good community.