Created for Relationship

“The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone'” (Genesis 2:18).

I had been in graduate school for about nine months.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but I just felt off. There was nothing physically wrong with me. I was healthy and working out five days a week.

But I just felt off kilter. It was strange. I found myself walking around the shopping mall regularly.

I hate malls! I hate shopping! What was I doing at a shopping mall?

And then it finally dawned on me. Ever since I left home for graduate school I had not had any meaningful physical touch for nine months. No hugs. No hand on the shoulder. Nothing.

I lived in an apartment off campus with my cat Toots. I’d go to class, then to the library to study, then back to the apartment with Toots. Toots was a fantastic cat. She was awesome. But she was a cat.

My body was literally aching for human touch. My soul was thirsting for meaningful human interaction.

Have you ever felt that way?

Perhaps, you’re going through a season like that right now.

God created us to be relational creatures. We weren’t meant to live in isolation from each other. We were made to be together.

If you are going through a time like this, know you are not alone. There’s space at our Sunday worship services. We have gone out of our way to make it as safe as possible for you to worship in person. Get around people in a safe setting where we can practice social distancing while being together. We all need that.

If you are doing okay, know that there are people in our congregation who haven’t had much human interaction due to covid, death of a spouse, life changes, on-line worship, etc.

Little Church and Lakewoodgrace, I want to encourage you to take a look around at your neighborhood and church. There are people you know who are struggling. There are people who are in need of a little TLC during this Advent season. I encourage you to reach out to at least one person a day. Remind them that they are not alone. God is with them. And, perhaps God wants to be present in the lives of others by showing up through you.

Thank you for being the church.