Discover the transformative power of 'communities of desire' that prioritize mutual longing over measurable outcomes. The discussion shifts from traditional hierarchies to decentralized connections, drawing insights from historical movements and personal experiences. Explore the role of shared aspirations in spiritual growth and the importance of purpose over productivity in leadership. By fostering an authentic community, individuals can align with their true desires and create meaningful relationships, enriching their lives and collective journeys.
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insights INSIGHT
Desire vs Visionary Leadership
Desire as the root of community contrasts with outcome-focused visionary leadership.
Communities of desire empower mutual longing for prayer, justice, and radical community rather than goals.
insights INSIGHT
Desire Anchors, Outcomes Burnout
Focusing on virtuous desires anchors community long-term despite changing strategies.
Outcome orientation often leads to burnout due to pressure for tangible results.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Prioritize Desire Over Outcomes
Avoid orienting communities strictly around outcomes or strategic plans.
Steer leadership and community focus toward virtuous desires as primary orientation instead.
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The Powers That Be is David Halberstam's detailed examination of the American media's influence on politics and public policy. The book chronicles the rise of four major media organizations: CBS under William S. Paley, Time magazine under Henry Luce, the Washington Post under Philip and Katherine Graham, and the Los Angeles Times under Norman and Otis Chandler. It explores how these media giants shaped public opinion and policy from the 1930s through the Watergate scandal, highlighting key historical events such as World War II, McCarthyism, the Vietnam War, and the political conventions. Halberstam provides vivid portraits of the personalities and politics behind these media institutions, illustrating their impact on American history and the interplay between media and politics.
In this episode, the Brave Cities crew explores a different kind of organizing principle: shared desire. Rather than building around outcomes, metrics, or even vision, we ask what happens when a community is rooted in a mutual longing — for Jesus, for justice, for neighbor love, for the poor, for the way of the Kingdom.
Drawing on influences from René Girard to Walter Wink, and from 12-step communities to monastic orders, the conversation shifts the frame from performance to formation, from hierarchy to mutuality, and from strategic goals to embodied longing.
Key Themes
Desire as the organizing principle of spiritual community
From top-down vision to decentralized invitation
Girardian “mimetic desire” reframed through the lens of Jesus
Why formation happens in process, not performance
Creating culture that pulls people up instead of pushing down
The difference between triangle leadership and circle community
Inviting others into a life of desire without over-planning the path
Notable Quotes:
“You don’t need a plan — you just need a desire worth living out.”
“Fall in love with the process, not the outcome.”
“If you stop walking, Babylon pulls you backward.”
The Grey Pages with Brave Cities 