A Reflection for Building Community

In C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce, purgatory is depicted as a bleak, sprawling town where people drift further apart, not out of fear, but from an inability to connect and understand one another’s needs. This image resonates in our fast-paced world, where it’s easy to overlook a neighbor’s struggle, avoid a friend’s quiet hardship, or shy away from the discomfort of truly engaging with others. Yet, in Story, Wyoming, we have the opportunity to choose differently, to embrace the conscious decision to build community. Living closely with others, despite occasional frustrations, fosters a profound sense of belonging and joy that strengthens the heart of our small town.

Community is the heartbeat of the human experience. For most of us, it begins with family and ripples outward to neighbors, friends, and the wider Story community. Here, we’re bound by shared history, the rugged beauty of our Wyoming landscape, and a collective spirit of resilience. Whether gathering at the Story Volunteer Fire Department pancake breakfast, swapping tales at the Story Store, or lending a hand to clear a neighbor’s snow-covered driveway, these moments weave us together. Our community is more than a place, it’s a living network of support, especially evident in our shared celebrations, like the annual Story Days, where we come together to honor our town’s heritage.

Even in a tight-knit place like Story, we face challenges. Across America, communities, rural and urban alike, are grappling with isolation, economic strain, and personal struggles. In Story, we see it in the quiet homes where neighbors face financial or emotional hardships, or in the moments when life’s demands pull us inward, weakening our connections. These challenges remind us that a community’s strength lies in its ability to respond to the needs of its members. When we rally to support a family rebuilding after a storm or share resources during tough times, we not only meet material needs but also nurture spiritual growth. Living in community teaches us empathy, drawing us closer to one another and, for many, closer to God. In this way, a thriving Story community offers a glimpse of something sacred, a reflection of unity and care.

I’ve seen this firsthand through efforts to strengthen our community with small but meaningful acts like organizing potlucks, volunteering at one of local organizations, or simply checking in on a neighbor. These experiences have taught me that community isn’t about perfection or always getting along. It’s about choosing kindness over politeness, being direct yet compassionate, and embracing the messiness of human connection.

Consider this analogy: God’s love is like a small flame within us. When we serve our neighbors whether helping at the Story School, supporting local businesses, or listening to someone’s story, we share that light, brightening the world around us. But life in Story can be windy, with challenges like long winters or economic pressures threatening to dim that flame. Living intentionally in community strengthens our ability to empathize, preparing us to extend that light to everyone, even in tough moments. For example, volunteering at one of the local organizations has shown me how small acts of service, setting up chairs for an event or delivering meals, build bridges between us, fostering resilience and hope.