Community

This week I experienced community, in its true form, its purest state. I was and am overwhelmed by the power of community.

Tuesday evening at 7:30, I was on the 5th page of 15 pages on my last paper of my second to last semester of seminary ever. I had reached that first point in writing on a roll. I was picking up speed and could see my way to the end, and I was proud of my work. Then my landlord called.

My neighbor had called my landlord and told her my backdoor was standing open and all my lights were on. I gave my landlord permission to go in. She sent her husband and he called me back. Yes, my door was open. Yes, my lights were on.

I didn't really care that much until he said, "Did you have a drumset?"

My house had been robbed. The phrase broken-in-to implies that something was broken. But it was not. There are two doors on the back of my building: one downstairs that leads to the laundry downstairs and to my apartment upstairs, where the second door is. Sometimes, I don't lock that second door after taking the dog outside, since the back door is supposed to be locked and only the people from the building have the key. So, robbed is the right word. They were there for awhile, and took some strange things.

I was stuck in KC. I was on the phone with the police and the bank, my friends were frantically looking up professors' home and cell phone numbers, and Lindsey was on the phone with her mom and my parents. I paced. I was put on hold by the bank and "Roll to Me" was the song they chose to play. First of all, this is a horrible song, the opposite of rock and roll. Second of all, it starts with the words "Look around your world pretty baby, Is it everything you hoped it would be?" I'm calling the fraud division of my bank to put a hold on my account because someone just stole my check book. NO! Stupid, my world is NOT everything I hoped it would be.

I was frantic. My friends were frantic and did not know what to do or how to do it. (Even though they did exactly what I needed them too). My friends in class found out on facebook and wanted to do something but couldn't. They offered to go with me to Saint Joseph. I went to Lindsey first.

I wanted to be there. I couldn't think beyond that point. I couldn't think about my final papers and project still due, couldn't think about getting Lindsey to the airport in the morning. I just needed to be there. So, we drove and our friend Justin met us there.

I had to be there, but I shouldn't have gone. DVDs, DVD shelves, DVD player, Stereo, one Pioneer speaker, Bart Simpson talking doll, air matress pump (not air matress), 30 tshirts, long sleeve tshirts, dress shoes, dress shirts, all my ties but one, blazers, polos. Gifts from Lindsey: rain stick, wooden African xylophone, antique hammer dulcimer, castenets, turle shaped guiro, mandolin, ukelele, antique metal djembe. Other instruments: electric guitar, amp (gifts from my parents), keyboard, both of my other djembes, and one six-piece, cherry red, Pearl Stage Custom drumset, with Zyljian KZ high hat cymbals and Sabian crash and ride. They took my drums.

They looked on a top shelf in the closet, brought down a box marked "Children's Nativity Set", didn't stop to think about looking inside, and took the present I bought for Lindsey for Christmas.

They looked on my desk, saw the plaque that reads "Do all the good you can, to all the people you can, in all the ways you can..." and picked up the air matress pump that was plugged in next to it.

They took my drums.

We made a police report. Not optimistic. We cleaned up the house. That helped.

Lindsey loves me enough to give me what I need even though its the opposite of what she would choose. I needed to be alone. Lindsey hated that idea, but loves me to the point that she gave me the space I needed. I stayed up, alone, thinking, praying, reading (they didn't take my books), playing (they didn't take my/dad's guitar, it was with me) 'til four or so and drifted off.

Next day: teachers' gave me an extension, Lindsey was in New Mexico and my friends wanted to know if the party I had planned for Wednesday night as an end of the semester party was still on. I assured them that it most certainly was. Called my DS, Steve Cox and he told a story of being robbed and the robbers not taking anything, so he felt violated AND lame. He knew how to talk to me in that moment. Talked to my dad and he told a story of his mom and dad being robbed in Lincoln. Talked to my sister and she was robbed in Warrensburg. Dad offered the big picture, Stephanie, my sister, offered to watch eBay for my stuff.

Then, I fell down the stairs on campus. I wanted to break down in that moment. Wanted to punch something, break something. Wanted to cry. That was too much. I decided to go to Saint Joseph early. My friends said they had something before we went. So, on our way out, we stopped by their rooms. My friend Mike handed me a dvd player with a surroud sound system. My friend Jamie hands me three of my favorite movies. My friend Zach hands my a bottle of homemade peppermint schnapps. I can't decide which I'm more thankful for.

So, we had the party. I was surrounded by my friends, by my community. I wanted Lindsey there, but it was good.

Next day: went to the bank to change my account. When I first told Mary why I needed to do so, she said nothing and went on with the transaction. A few minutes passed, and quietly, handing me my new checkbook she said, "People are just getting desperate," and my anger went away.

My neighbor noticed (first) and didn't ignore (second).
My landlord left his family dinner table to check on my things.
My friends gathered 'round me, sprang into action when I asked for things, were silent when I needed them to be, hugged when I needed them.
Lindsey called everybody she could and got in the car with me because I needed to be there.
Justin got in his car because I needed a friend there too.
My DS knew how to talk to me.
My family rallied with support and love.
And Mary from the bank said exactly what I needed to hear.

Community. In the end, that's all there is. Relationship, community, the people.

When community can be so strong in the midst of losing everything, you realize that community is the only thing.

Thank you all.

B