[Music] so we as people born into the internet
so we as people born into the internet
so we as people born into the internet age or lacking real interpersonal
age or lacking real interpersonal
age or lacking real interpersonal connection most of us don’t enjoy
connection most of us don’t enjoy
connection most of us don’t enjoy interacting face-to-face anymore and
interacting face-to-face anymore and
interacting face-to-face anymore and honestly we’d much rather just text each
honestly we’d much rather just text each
honestly we’d much rather just text each other the best way to combat this is to
other the best way to combat this is to
other the best way to combat this is to live an intentional community that is
live an intentional community that is
live an intentional community that is community where you choose to put others
community where you choose to put others
community where you choose to put others above yourself regardless of who or what
above yourself regardless of who or what
above yourself regardless of who or what they might be sadly this notion has
they might be sadly this notion has
they might be sadly this notion has become less and less popular with the
become less and less popular with the
become less and less popular with the rise of social media as we can see if
rise of social media as we can see if
rise of social media as we can see if you look on Pinterest or any other major
you look on Pinterest or any other major
you look on Pinterest or any other major social media site you’ll see the feed of
social media site you’ll see the feed of
social media site you’ll see the feed of what today’s youth are being fed every
what today’s youth are being fed every
what today’s youth are being fed every single day it’s an incessant constant
single day it’s an incessant constant
single day it’s an incessant constant flow of self over others and it truly is
flow of self over others and it truly is
flow of self over others and it truly is destroying our communities to me social
destroying our communities to me social
destroying our communities to me social media is a lot like lead lead enters
media is a lot like lead lead enters
media is a lot like lead lead enters your body and your body recognizes it as
your body and your body recognizes it as
your body and your body recognizes it as calcium which is a vital nutrient that
calcium which is a vital nutrient that
calcium which is a vital nutrient that your body likes to store up so lead is
your body likes to store up so lead is
your body likes to store up so lead is thrown up in your bones and other places
thrown up in your bones and other places
thrown up in your bones and other places in your body until it replaces all of
in your body until it replaces all of
in your body until it replaces all of the calcium and then you die well social
the calcium and then you die well social
the calcium and then you die well social media could do a very similar thing to
media could do a very similar thing to
media could do a very similar thing to your emotional state social media comes
your emotional state social media comes
your emotional state social media comes into your life masquerading as true
into your life masquerading as true
into your life masquerading as true community yet it’s slowly and
community yet it’s slowly and
community yet it’s slowly and systematically replaces all the true
systematically replaces all the true
systematically replaces all the true community you once had this replacement
community you once had this replacement
community you once had this replacement can happen without any real tangible
can happen without any real tangible
can happen without any real tangible effects that you notice until one day
effects that you notice until one day
effects that you notice until one day you’re left without any real community
you’re left without any real community
you’re left without any real community and it’s all been replaced by virtual
and it’s all been replaced by virtual
and it’s all been replaced by virtual connections that leave you unsatisfied
connections that leave you unsatisfied
connections that leave you unsatisfied so another major stumbling block and
so another major stumbling block and
so another major stumbling block and getting into community and this is kind
getting into community and this is kind
getting into community and this is kind of my problem is I’m a major introvert
of my problem is I’m a major introvert
of my problem is I’m a major introvert and I don’t like to do life with people
and I don’t like to do life with people
and I don’t like to do life with people so I used to think like a lot of people
so I used to think like a lot of people
so I used to think like a lot of people that having friends was like a little
that having friends was like a little
that having friends was like a little added bonus to my life so I would get
added bonus to my life so I would get
added bonus to my life so I would get all my stuff together I get my work done
all my stuff together I get my work done
all my stuff together I get my work done get my life perfect and now it’s ready
get my life perfect and now it’s ready
get my life perfect and now it’s ready to go out and spend two hours with my
to go out and spend two hours with my
to go out and spend two hours with my friends and then I’d come back into my
friends and then I’d come back into my
friends and then I’d come back into my little hole and avoid people for the
little hole and avoid people for the
little hole and avoid people for the rest of time but I’ve since realized how
rest of time but I’ve since realized how
rest of time but I’ve since realized how backwards and negative this is I should
backwards and negative this is I should
backwards and negative this is I should have been searching out a true
have been searching out a true
have been searching out a true accountable interpersonal community that
accountable interpersonal community that
accountable interpersonal community that I could be a part of regardless of
I could be a part of regardless of
I could be a part of regardless of whether I was totally put together and
whether I was totally put together and
whether I was totally put together and perfect or not now this is partially my
perfect or not now this is partially my
perfect or not now this is partially my own fault being someone who really
own fault being someone who really
own fault being someone who really enjoys being self-reliant but I think
enjoys being self-reliant but I think
enjoys being self-reliant but I think that we can all relate to it in one way
that we can all relate to it in one way
that we can all relate to it in one way another our culture is one of pulling
another our culture is one of pulling
another our culture is one of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and
yourself up by your bootstraps and
yourself up by your bootstraps and living for yourself and this is toxic so
living for yourself and this is toxic so
living for yourself and this is toxic so four years ago was when I kind of
four years ago was when I kind of
four years ago was when I kind of realized this and made this big
realized this and made this big
realized this and made this big transition in my life four years ago was
transition in my life four years ago was
transition in my life four years ago was the summer of my freshman year and
the summer of my freshman year and
the summer of my freshman year and that’s when I went to summer camp for
that’s when I went to summer camp for
that’s when I went to summer camp for the first time with three other guys
the first time with three other guys
the first time with three other guys that are now incredibly close friends we
that are now incredibly close friends we
that are now incredibly close friends we all went together and over the course of
all went together and over the course of
all went together and over the course of the week we pranked the camp staff had a
the week we pranked the camp staff had a
the week we pranked the camp staff had a huge soccer tournament with like 400
huge soccer tournament with like 400
huge soccer tournament with like 400 people everybody that was in the camp
people everybody that was in the camp
people everybody that was in the camp and just had tons of crazy hooligan
and just had tons of crazy hooligan
and just had tons of crazy hooligan adventures and this is what really
adventures and this is what really
adventures and this is what really brought us together this is my first
brought us together this is my first
brought us together this is my first glimpse into what real interpersonal
glimpse into what real interpersonal
glimpse into what real interpersonal connection could be like and from that
connection could be like and from that
connection could be like and from that point on I didn’t want to let it go so
point on I didn’t want to let it go so
point on I didn’t want to let it go so I’m hoping that today can be your big
I’m hoping that today can be your big
I’m hoping that today can be your big transition point I want you to say yes
transition point I want you to say yes
transition point I want you to say yes to community yes to committing to other
to community yes to committing to other
to community yes to committing to other people and yes to a better life so then
people and yes to a better life so then
people and yes to a better life so then what can you do forget passive community
what can you do forget passive community
what can you do forget passive community and embrace intentional community
and embrace intentional community
and embrace intentional community opportunities to connect with others are
opportunities to connect with others are
opportunities to connect with others are all around us you just have to be
all around us you just have to be
all around us you just have to be willing to be the catalyst that actually
willing to be the catalyst that actually
willing to be the catalyst that actually connects people for instance many of us
connects people for instance many of us
connects people for instance many of us are in school high school or college
are in school high school or college
are in school high school or college this is such a difficult time for so
this is such a difficult time for so
this is such a difficult time for so many of us yet it could be made so much
many of us yet it could be made so much
many of us yet it could be made so much easier if each of us were willing to
easier if each of us were willing to
easier if each of us were willing to connect with people simply because they
connect with people simply because they
connect with people simply because they are valuable and worthy of our time and
are valuable and worthy of our time and
are valuable and worthy of our time and for no other reason community is such an
for no other reason community is such an
for no other reason community is such an important thing and I think that it’s
important thing and I think that it’s
important thing and I think that it’s something we can all benefit from so you
something we can all benefit from so you
something we can all benefit from so you say David awesome I want to be in
say David awesome I want to be in
say David awesome I want to be in community is it all going to be peach
community is it all going to be peach
community is it all going to be peach trees and roses and perfect all the time
trees and roses and perfect all the time
trees and roses and perfect all the time sadly no so community is hard and that’s
sadly no so community is hard and that’s
sadly no so community is hard and that’s where a lot of the value comes in but I
where a lot of the value comes in but I
where a lot of the value comes in but I guarantee that you will have difficult
guarantee that you will have difficult
guarantee that you will have difficult times that you will encounter so I’ve
times that you will encounter so I’ve
times that you will encounter so I’ve put together a little list of a few tips
put together a little list of a few tips
put together a little list of a few tips that you can apply in your life if
that you can apply in your life if
that you can apply in your life if you’re in community and things that you
you’re in community and things that you
you’re in community and things that you can work through and use so the first is
can work through and use so the first is
can work through and use so the first is to be accountable if you’re in community
to be accountable if you’re in community
to be accountable if you’re in community and you have a real community then it
and you have a real community then it
and you have a real community then it has to have a standard meeting time an
has to have a standard meeting time an
has to have a standard meeting time an accountable meeting time and it has to
accountable meeting time and it has to
accountable meeting time and it has to be expected that everybody in the
be expected that everybody in the
be expected that everybody in the community is going to be there every
community is going to be there every
community is going to be there every single week or every other week or
single week or every other week or
single week or every other week or whenever you’re meeting and when someone
whenever you’re meeting and when someone
whenever you’re meeting and when someone isn’t there
isn’t there
isn’t there it’s the responsibility of everyone else
it’s the responsibility of everyone else
it’s the responsibility of everyone else in the community to find out where that
in the community to find out where that
in the community to find out where that person was and what they were doing if
person was and what they were doing if
person was and what they were doing if something’s wrong that’s what makes it
something’s wrong that’s what makes it
something’s wrong that’s what makes it real also if you’re living in real
real also if you’re living in real
real also if you’re living in real community then it’s very important to
community then it’s very important to
community then it’s very important to have tangible connections with the
have tangible connections with the
have tangible connections with the people in your community outside of its
people in your community outside of its
people in your community outside of its normal context so a coffee date a walk
normal context so a coffee date a walk
normal context so a coffee date a walk or whatever creates strong robust
or whatever creates strong robust
or whatever creates strong robust connections within the community that
connections within the community that
connections within the community that makes the whole community stronger
makes the whole community stronger
makes the whole community stronger finally if you’re in community then
finally if you’re in community then
finally if you’re in community then there’s going to be people in it that
there’s going to be people in it that
there’s going to be people in it that you don’t like that’s just the nature of
you don’t like that’s just the nature of
you don’t like that’s just the nature of community and it’s it’s part of what
community and it’s it’s part of what
community and it’s it’s part of what makes it so valuable and what grows
makes it so valuable and what grows
makes it so valuable and what grows maturity and you but it’s going to
maturity and you but it’s going to
maturity and you but it’s going to create conflict so the best way I found
create conflict so the best way I found
create conflict so the best way I found to get through this is you just sit down
to get through this is you just sit down
to get through this is you just sit down with the person you have conflict with
with the person you have conflict with
with the person you have conflict with find out everything you can about their
find out everything you can about their
find out everything you can about their side of the story because chances are if
side of the story because chances are if
side of the story because chances are if there’s conflict then there’s
there’s conflict then there’s
there’s conflict then there’s misunderstanding so this type of
misunderstanding so this type of
misunderstanding so this type of community I found is beautifully
community I found is beautifully
community I found is beautifully demonstrated in the Pape when students
demonstrated in the Pape when students
demonstrated in the Pape when students here or here living in America and
here or here living in America and
here or here living in America and studying at our universities my brother
studying at our universities my brother
studying at our universities my brother got in contact with me a few months ago
got in contact with me a few months ago
got in contact with me a few months ago and told me that he wanted to organize a
and told me that he wanted to organize a
and told me that he wanted to organize a traditional pop one celebration called
traditional pop one celebration called
traditional pop one celebration called baccarat Basu this celebration is based
baccarat Basu this celebration is based
baccarat Basu this celebration is based around any sort of big event so Easter
around any sort of big event so Easter
around any sort of big event so Easter was coming up so we chose to celebrate
was coming up so we chose to celebrate
was coming up so we chose to celebrate that and you should know the Papua New
that and you should know the Papua New
that and you should know the Papua New Guinea government only sends 80 to 90
Guinea government only sends 80 to 90
Guinea government only sends 80 to 90 students to America to study here at our
students to America to study here at our
students to America to study here at our universities and these students are from
universities and these students are from
universities and these students are from all over the nation of Papua end up at
all over the nation of Papua end up at
all over the nation of Papua end up at universities across the nation so my
universities across the nation so my
universities across the nation so my brother began a pair of prepare for the
brother began a pair of prepare for the
brother began a pair of prepare for the event he got together a bunch of leaves
event he got together a bunch of leaves
event he got together a bunch of leaves or ferns called waka lekha
or ferns called waka lekha
or ferns called waka lekha which is just such a fun word to say
which is just such a fun word to say
which is just such a fun word to say waka Lika we got tons of veggies to make
waka Lika we got tons of veggies to make
waka Lika we got tons of veggies to make and two whole pigs so as my brother was
and two whole pigs so as my brother was
and two whole pigs so as my brother was preparing for the event he got more and
preparing for the event he got more and
preparing for the event he got more and more calls from pop ones from all over
more calls from pop ones from all over
more calls from pop ones from all over saying that they wanted to come which
saying that they wanted to come which
saying that they wanted to come which was just insane because we had no
was just insane because we had no
was just insane because we had no advertising there was no way to spread
advertising there was no way to spread
advertising there was no way to spread the word but soon 70 out of the 85 pop
the word but soon 70 out of the 85 pop
the word but soon 70 out of the 85 pop ones that are in America were scheduled
ones that are in America were scheduled
ones that are in America were scheduled to come down to Shoals to have some
to come down to Shoals to have some
to come down to Shoals to have some weird tobacco tasting meat and veggies
weird tobacco tasting meat and veggies
weird tobacco tasting meat and veggies so this is a group picture
so this is a group picture
so this is a group picture but the event came it was a huge success
but the event came it was a huge success
but the event came it was a huge success it was a fantastic experience for me and
it was a fantastic experience for me and
it was a fantastic experience for me and everybody all the pop ones that were
everybody all the pop ones that were
everybody all the pop ones that were there but the most striking thing to me
there but the most striking thing to me
there but the most striking thing to me was how these people interacted most of
was how these people interacted most of
was how these people interacted most of them didn’t know each other beforehand
them didn’t know each other beforehand
them didn’t know each other beforehand yeah when they came together there was
yeah when they came together there was
yeah when they came together there was no semblance of hesitation cliques or
no semblance of hesitation cliques or
no semblance of hesitation cliques or any sort of just they wanted to be with
any sort of just they wanted to be with
any sort of just they wanted to be with each other simply because they had
each other simply because they had
each other simply because they had decided beforehand that they did this is
decided beforehand that they did this is
decided beforehand that they did this is such an important lesson I think we can
such an important lesson I think we can
such an important lesson I think we can all learn from it was just it was
all learn from it was just it was
all learn from it was just it was incredible to see another culture and
incredible to see another culture and
incredible to see another culture and how it’s so standard for them and how
how it’s so standard for them and how
how it’s so standard for them and how it’s so foreign to us so what am I
it’s so foreign to us so what am I
it’s so foreign to us so what am I asking you to do get out into the world
asking you to do get out into the world
asking you to do get out into the world and connect with people it’s the
and connect with people it’s the
and connect with people it’s the smallest and biggest thing you can do
smallest and biggest thing you can do
smallest and biggest thing you can do thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
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