What money has done to us… our value in community
Much of what the Tool Lending and Service Trading Switchboard is all about is getting ourselves away from relying so much on money to meet our needs and enjoyments.
Money has gotten us into the perspective that the only way we can get a return on the things we are good at or have in our possession is if we can get money back.
One of the first things that many people say when I ask if they want to get involved is to say, “Hmm… I’m not quite sure I have anything to offer… I’ll have to think about that one.” I can see the gears spinning. How much did that thing cost? Can I afford to let someone borrow it? (even though it only gets used once a month!) I don’t really have any services that might be useful to someone… (ie I’m not sure someone would pay me for what I do, so it’s not worthwhile to the community).
If you have something that gets used infrequently at best, if you have a BODY(!!), or a car, or a hobby… then you have something to share, lend, trade. It doesn’t matter if you get money for it. See, our value to the community does not have to have anything to do with how much money we make or how much money we can give for something. Our value in sustainable and transformational community, village culture, is about what we can give within the context of a relationship. The possibilities are endless!
Trading services and lending tools.appliances is about looking at ourselves from a different perspective. It’s about knowing, and living in the knowledge, that we have more than enough to go around… if we work together. We have our selves to offer… all goofy, quirky, insecure, broken parts of ourselves. What if every person in Bend, Oregon was willing to ask themselves, “What do I have to offer my community?” and then they registered that with the switchboard? The database would grow and continue growing and people would begin working together on a local to make this our lives and our earth a better place. We wouldn’t have to keep buying and buying more STUFF!
Bend would be a completely different place…
Find out more of the values of the Switchboard HERE.
Find out how to register HERE.
Check the various pages at www.switchboardbend.com for ideas of what people are already offering.
About Nate
Currently, Nate is living in Bend, OR, working as the co-founder for VillageWorks (celebrating abundance | creative connectivity) and the singular Bend|OR advocate of BridgeWorks (an educational 501[c]3). He is connecting and holding space for an emerging community of people, young and old, who are seeking to grow into more sustainable and mature relationships… with self, community and God. The vision on his heart is one of giving people experience of village culture and practice.
Nate can be found connecting people through at The Hub, VillageWorks’ Central Oregon community connection center (www.rockthevillage.com) and making oven pancakes for the biggest regular “village” breakfast in Bend every Saturday morning at 9:30.
Nate went to Bethel College in St Paul, MN (’03), got his BA in Youth Ministry, completed his Masters in Divinity at Bethel Seminary (’06) with an emphasis in Spiritual Formation, and is currently pursuing a certificate in Spiritual Formation at George Fox Seminary in Portland. His hope is to continue to pursue community spiritual formation within the framework of the neighborhood conversation and cross-cultural dialog.
Nate has been connecting people into more authentic community in Bend | OR since June ’07. Since day one of his arrival, Nate has been gifted with the chance to listen and learn about the culture and people of Central Oregon. Because of his passion for conversation and community, he has fallen in love with the people of this wonderful city and is committed to the growth of more intentional and transformational community.
Nate’s particular areas of interest are:
* conversational transformation
* spiritual formation
* relational mentoring and counseling
* small group strengthening
* men’s work (spiritual, emotional, and relational)
* “Village Knowledge” of homecraft, live food, etc
* Intergenerational community
* New visions of the gifts we offer to the community
* teaching for the 21st century, and more.
At this time Nate has not written any books, but hopes to some day have enough material to put into some type of publication. At this point, he is dedicated to building relationships in Bend, Central Oregon, and across the United States to connect people to what is happening in an emerging and evolving paradigm and with those who are seeking to follow God and live more authentically in the transforming presence of the divine.
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I really REALLY love this, Nate!