Genesis 2:18-20

“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.’” vs. 19

When the Hebrews began to assemble their scriptures about 2500 years ago, they chose this little story out of the creation narratives as their lead. It was a remarkable Spirit-guided choice! With just a few sentences they affirmed that God had designed humans for life in community–it just wasn’t good that men or women should be alone. Now it is true that some individuals are quite content to live by themselves–either by choice or by circumstance they move through life without an intimate partner. But for most folks, loneliness can bring deep alienation and a source of despair. (Sadly, even for some who are married!) And this appears to be a growing need in this culture of smartphones and constant connective distractions. We crave the support and presence of others in daily life and look for opportunities to be a part of a caring community. Many congregations have become aware of this need and are developing a multitude of innovative strategies for reaching out to those craving personal connections. It just feels so good to have a community of faith where we can regularly meet with people who know us by name and who love us unconditionally. In their company we will find companions who know how to erase our loneliness.

Thought for the Day: Where do I find community?