Article July 15, 1991 Issue

A HEART FOR COMMUNITY

It's natural to care deeply about community. Real love for family extends to neighbors—and overflows for the whole of society. This occasional column tells of how a spiritual perspective has been helping Sentinel readers help others and make a contribution to healing some of the collective challenges facing communities today.

For twenty years or so, I've played the trumpet with a large metropolitan orchestra. About nine years ago, my fellow musicians elected me to represent the orchestra on behalf of the union in negotiations with the orchestra's management. I've been involved with several rounds of negotiations since then. I try to approach this as I do everything else in my life—from a spiritual basis.

One pervasive challenge in negotiations is the thought that there are two sides, that there is someone who's right and someone who's wrong—one side winning and the other side losing. The most difficult—and most rewarding—thing for me is to hold to the spiritual fact that there really is just one Mind, God, and not many minds. Not two sides, but one side that's right for both parties.

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