Driving to work this morning I was “startled” to hear a report that found that a majority of people get the most joy out of meeting face to face with family and friends and that connecting through Facebook is far behind in its ability to bring joy. (As an aside I marvel at the things people seem to need to survey.)

There is a thread that goes through human history and runs through even our current high tech, fast paced lives. It seems that we are at our best and our happiest when we live and breath, work and play in community.

Teams (community) develop the most comprehensive and even creative business solutions. The Montreal Canadians are busy proving that playing as a team committed to the team’s goals works better than freewheeling individualism.

I remember my first experience with microfinance or what is sometimes referred to as “village banking”. On the hillside in Kigali, Rwanda we met a group of about 12 or 13 women that were being supported by URWEGO (now Urwego Opportunity Bank). The meeting that I was there to experience was one at which the members were making their monthly payments. The lead woman in the group reported to the Urwego rep that one of their members was unable to make her payment and that the group was going to cover her amount on her behalf. The second thing that stood out for me came when they asked the women what was most important to them about this microfinance. One participant spoke up saying that the strength and security that came from her group was more important to her than the money. In light of the depth of poverty that she was experiencing, this came to me as being profound.

There are many issues related to poverty and injustice throughout the world that need to be addressed. But today I’m just thankful that our WRC work, “Cultivating Hope and Growing Communities” is making a difference.