Written by Karen D. Swim

I sat at my desk watching the steam from my morning cup of coffee curl and dissipate in the quiet morning air.  Technically at work but not fully alert I gazed out the window as command central booted up for the day.

I closed my eyes and inhaled the aroma of the Arabica beans allowing my senses to awaken.  *Beep* I sipped deeply and smiled at the familiar sound of the doorbell to my digital community.

Three years ago my “digital community” was limited to an email list of women praying for and supporting one another. Today, the connections are not easily traced from end to end, stretching across borders and communication platforms, multiplying along the way.  In this community people never move they simply add on growing from digital condo to mansion with a mouse click. Foundations shift but connections are never lost.  With each new neighborhood, the community grows, more stoops to visit, and stories to exchange.

My digital community has taught me that the power of human connection does not require you to inhabit the same physical space. A kind word when you’re on the verge of tears, a photo of a chocodote and talk of gorillas and pizza cheer the heart as powerfully as if you were in the same room.

I have learned that love and kindness are not diluted by the digital medium but strenghtened and multiplied as it is shared and spread, hashtagged and retweeted swelling as each adds to it as it travels through the digitial continuum. A cuppa with your digitial fence neighbor as deeply satisfying as a visit in a cafe.

We humans are amazing beings. Creative, fierce, determined and loyal. We find ways to forge deep and lasting connections in spite of geography, language differences, time zones and all manner of challenges that seem to stand in the way. We have conquered time and space using bits, bytes and memory cards.  Refusing to be defeated by physical barriers, we support, encourage, inspire, and teach our tribe.

*Beep*  the horn has sounded, the tribe has spoken, it is time to engage. The circle widens allowing my presence and I smile in humble gratitude.

What have  you learned from your community?

This post is my humble thank you to all of you and my conntirubtion to  Middle Zone Musings’ 24th Group Writing Project, What I Learned From Community. Care to share? Entries are being accepted until Sunday, May 10th at Midnight CST.