Driving Solo

It was a beautiful morning for my walk. It felt like Vancouver as it was overcast and had rained during the night but it was fresh and clean and calm. My hair was damp and straight on my return but it did not dampen my spirits at all.

I admire the big old poplar tree that I pass when I go for my walk. It was one of the fortunate ones that was 'left standing' as I look at all the other trees and bushes that are on the main avenue. It appears that someone has done mischief with them by slashing branches, cutting trunks and just general mayhem at different times over the last many years. But this big poplar stands tall and its trunk is thick so it has survived! In the spring, I can see the whole process of new life each day as I pass by. Now, in the fall, you can see the leaves beginning to change color, and the branches and seedlings drying up and some are falling off. The look is changing.

I can't say that I look forward to the winter but I definitely love the Fall. But I digress. I was intending to comment on the poplar standing tall on its own along the avenue. It started out with other poplars but ended up alone. It has thrived but not without problems. The book I am currently reading (Intimate Conversations, Devotions to Nurture a Woman's Soul by Alicia Britt Chole) has a chapter on 'driving solo'. She talks about carpooling (and all its benefits) vs driving on your own. Later, she makes reference to our spiritual life and it clicked for me when I read it after my walk this morning so thought I would share my thoughts too. Anyway, she says "the parallels to a life of faith are obvious. Sharing your space with others in a community of faith can be costly. But frankly, going it alone can be deadly." She says "Jesus does not offer faith for independent study. Christianity is lived in the plural, not the singular."

After giving some thought to her comments I had to agree. Before I came to faith, I did a lot on my own or with people who were there for me but only for the moment, perhaps when it was workable for them and their circumstances. That was a long time ago now. I did notice then too that people in trouble or needing someone to talk to would not share their real concerns because they needed 'time' to develop the trust and relationship. Who had time in those younger years? I was a single mom and working full time. However, this doesn't always happen in a church setting either. But, it is more likely to take place. Regular meeting, like views, participation and common interests bring people together. Even though we can still have differences of opinion and on occasion hurt one another with words or actions, it is our shared experiences that help unite us. Alicia says "The very imperfection of life-together grounds us and actually can protect us from floating off into spiritual strangeness and straying into spiritual danger." "Simply put: we are safer together than alone."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

I was talking to a friend yesterday who I had not talked to in awhile. She said she just felt she had nothing to say. Of couse, that is alright too. We all need times of solitude and down time. But, a friend is someone who is there in the 'down' times who can share the time - even if it is without words. We need each other. As Alicia has pointed out 'two are better than one'.

Take time today to share yourself with someone.