The Beatles sang about “getting by with a little help from my friends.” I don’t think they were that far off in this idea. Over the past couple of years I have come to appreciate the role that community plays in helping us through those tough times.
My default response to tough times has alway been to withdraw into my own little world, put up walls and work things out on my own. To be honest, in the long run that hasn’t worked out very well for me. I always thought that I was simply wired that way and I didn’t need anyones help. I don’t know if it was arrogance, pride, embarrassment or some other reason I didn’t want to seek the wisdom of others. There were times when I wouldn’t even seek the wisdom of God. It was the attitude that I can do this on my own. I think that Satan was dancing with delight as I would withdraw from the world because this would cause me to cut myself off from others and from God.
From my studies and from pratical application I have come to see that we are in fact wired not to be alone but to be in community. We each bring into our own communities different gifts, talents, experiences and view points that can help the rest make better sense of life and the things that life throws our way.
The early church is a great example of this. In Acts we see the people coming together sharing wath they have for the good of the community. I the time I spend in jail with a group of men we help each other shape our lives and our life stories. My spiritual director has help me by asking questions that help me thing or rethink about thinks going on in my life – to bring clarity and understanding. My councilor has helped me to work through some of my stumbling blocks. I have a friend who asks me the tough questions about what is going on in my life. I have a small group with whom I can share prayer requests. Finally, I have a wife who comes along side my on the eclectic journey I call life. I also know that God is apart of this whole process for it is His still small voice I listen for, it is the Holy Spirit who helps me as I reflect on where God has been at work in the past and is helping me connect the dots.
Doing life really is about community – about “getting by with a little help from my friends.” How healthy is your soul care community? How healthy is your relationship with God?