“Being of One Mind Doesn’t Mean Yours is the Only One in the Room”

Knee surgery was a humbling experience. Not because of the obvious temporary disability, but because of the sheer fact that this “independent woman” had to swallow her pride to ask for help to accomplish the simplest of tasks. At a young age, mama taught me how to scale the kitchen counter to get to those plates and glasses on the shelves. I was raised with a mentality that fed my insatiable desire to conquer the improbable because of my vertically challenged stubborn self.

Coursing through life, I stomped the earth with an unstoppable determination to prove to the world I could do it all by myself – regardless of what “it” was. In many instances, it propelled me to take on projects that most people wouldn’t sign up for – simply to demonstrate that my “inner strength” could not and would not be hampered by my physical limitations. Pride does that.

Pride leads to destruction;
    a proud attitude brings ruin. Proverbs 16:18 NCV

As a Christ Follower, I have to keep that in check – like, double and triple check. GOD designed us with love in His Eyes and compassion in His Heart and created us for relationship with Him. He didn’t make us all out of the same assembly-line mold and toss us into a field to fend for ourselves. He carefully made each one of us with a unique persona and equally distinguishing gifts and talents to use for His Purpose in community with one another.

When people chatter about not needing other people in their lives, my heart literally saddens. Isolation is what lures us into a thought process that is deceiving and deadly. In those dark lonely corners we have the innate tendency to get distracted and derailed even by our own (well-meaning) thoughts. That happens when we shut out the possibility of others speaking truth into our space. Life according to you (me) is not totally trustworthy.

While our experiences are our reality, how good are they when all is void of truth and companionship that helps keep us on the steady path?

¹² Later, when Moses’ arms became tired, the men put a large rock under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands—Aaron on one side and Hur on the other. They kept his hands steady until the sun went down. ¹³ So Joshua defeated the Amalekites in this battle. Exodus 17:12-13 NCV

I’m going to ask you the hard question today, “How’s your community of two or three or four or five?” Has it dwindled down to a full house of one?

For those of you that are panicked about a room full of people, you don’t need a crowd of friends. Jesus had a select twelve in His inner circle. He did life for three years with His tribe of close friends, the Twelve and the women that ministered with them. They traveled, feasted, had midnight bonfire chats, went on fishing and missions trips, celebrated weddings and major holy days. I’m sure there’s more that happened that aren’t written down – we can ask Him about those when we see Him. *wink!*

Jesus showed His Friends that even though they had their unique personalities, they could still worship as well as debate. That as a collective whole they could spread the goodness of GOD and help others in practical ways.

We. Need. Each. Other.

You really don’t have to look any further than your local church. Join a small group or start one of your own. You already have the one common denominator: Jesus.

Avoid the temptation to do life independent of those who could pour into your life in ways far more valuable than you’ll ever know. And believe it or not, you’ll be doing the same for them.

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV

I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~

LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary