Fortresses have always been well known for stability in the strength of their walls. One particular community had this assurance as citizens that they would be held together by such formidability.
The stones even had their own personalities, each with a precisioned, distinctive shape fitted together by purpose to present such outward toughness that no one should dare to approach its barrier front. However, throughout time, homogeneity gave way to distinction as a type of intrinsic pride. So, even the citizens within began to notice the degradation.
Communities are generally made of individuals that are reflective of their diversities and culture. Each taking its security cue from that which protects that specific community’s dynamic, or makeup.
But how did what happen with the wall over time begin to take place in the people? Once considering themselves unassailable, a shield against harm. Over time, as with the stones and basic geology – constant pressure over time creates the mini fissures that deform and give way. So also it started happening in the community of people that live behind its protections.
Quiet suspicions, neighbors eyeing one another. Comparing weaknesses. Weighing out world view perspectives in balances. (early signs of the more modern & politically polarizing landscape we see today) What was once “the many out of one” became the ‘hesitancy before confidence’.
As the mistrust festered amongst the stones, so did the sound reality falter in the bounds of that now apparent crumbling of the formidable wall that once stood as impenetrable. The once close ties amongst the peoples were also starting to show its own reality.
Gaps of mistrust within this particular culture are no longer disguised as once previously. Blatantly obvious are the gaps between the mighty stones (as in illustration above). Erosion took over its foundation, and the spirit of the once-unified people were like helpless cripples – while the impending enemy stood at its gates.
The remainder of the story is up to us. It’s important to consider how we live in our market places, homes, and approach our civic meetings. We can pretend that it only occurred in the past when literal stone walls protected people within, and ignore the fact that in this day and age, agendas can be pushed that cause these socioeconomic and cultural disparities. Snowballing into how others will finally fail us because we no longer rely in the unique characteristics of one another, which relationally had been chiseled out perfectly to fit alongside one another; and that is – our community’s strength.
