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Genesis 1 is a creation story. In it, God made everything. In six days, he made it all, and on every day, he saw that it was good. Except on the sixth day, when he made all the animals and human beings. And on that day, he saw that it was very good.
God made it all. And it was all good. And you and I...we were very good.
Until Genesis 2, when God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone."
God created human beings in his own image. They were good. But it was not good for them to be alone.
This longing we have for other people.... It's not a design flaw. It's how God made us. On purpose. In his image.
He wants us to live our lives with other people.
And that's why the connections we find with other souls created in God's image -- especially the ones we find when all hell breaks loose -- are so precious.
Where has hell broken loose in your life? What precious connections reminded you it was not good to be alone?
This September 12 I'm thankful for so many things ....
- Connections like the one ten years and a day ago between Victor Wald and Harry Ramos in the North Tower stairwell, who knew that it was not good to be alone.
- Safety and a place to call home (her parents' camper in his parents' yard, humble as it may be) for my cousin Deb and her family, whose house burned down last week in the Bastrop County fires.
- The way communities pull together, connecting with one another even in their loss, as Deb and her daughter volunteered at the local high school distributing donated clothing...and as their family added one more child to an already crowded camper to help a single-parent family who also lost their home to the fire, just until the mom could find someplace better than the shelter for her family to be together.
- Family far and wide pulling together to support Deb and her family.
- Baby Caleb, my cousin Amanda's little one, coming home for the first time after a week in the NICU, bringing that new little family together at last.
- Time for our small group to connect and new people joining our group next week.
- Connection in this crazy blogosphere that are truly precious to me....you know who you are.
- And for 10 September 12ths with my family and friends over the last decade.
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Linking up with Michelle at Graceful. And with Ann at Holy Experience. And with Jen at Finding Heaven.
It took years of God working with me before I really begin to let down barriers and realize I needed others. And, I feel so much more fulfilled now!
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I've been thinking about lately is that we were designed for community because God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have existed in eternal community with one another. When we are doing community and doing it well (like they are doing for your cousin Deb) we better reflect the image of God.
ReplyDeletethanks for this reminder of our need for community -- God's been speaking to me on this. It's been too easy for me to put up walls of protection.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking a lot about community this Sept. 11th, too. But I hadn't linked it back to that passage in Genesis, and as you state, the fact that it's not a "design flaw" that we crave the company of others. I like how you put that.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your cousin, Deb -- lifting up prayers right now.
Thank you for prayers, Michelle. I hadn't linked it back to Genesis either until Sunday, when Pastor Larry did. That's why I love your link up!
ReplyDeleteEsther, may God help you find real protection in real friends.
ReplyDeleteYes! Sometimes we have to remember that home is not here. And if God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are living in community, we join that community when we go home. Living in community here is good practice!
ReplyDeleteAwesome testimony, Shanda!
ReplyDeleteWe were designed to live in community--so very true! Even He lives in Community: Father, Son, Spirit. What a blessing to part of His Body. Thank you for your wisdom, dear Kim. :)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute that shows how God brings beauty from ashes. Sometimes it is beauty in the form of things given, but often more priceless is the beauty of the gift of love and spiritual shelter from the storms that rage.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you here again...
I am enjoying glimpses of community in my new city. It has taken much longer, after this move than usual . . . but I am grateful. Thanks for honoring it.
ReplyDeleteFondly,Glenda