“For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.”
Romans 14:7
” A winter’s day,
In a deep and dark December,
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below,
I am a rock,
I am an island.
I’ve built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
Don’t talk of love,
But I’ve heard the words before;
It’s sleeping in my memory.
I won’t disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am on island.
I have my books,
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.
– “I Am A Rock”, Simon & Garfunkel
I’d like to address this message to those who are feeling isolated, discouraged, disenfranchised, and hopeless.
I am aware of so many wonderful people who are without community alone and lonely.
No man is an island.
You didn’t start out that way.
But over time you have been hurt by others, may have suffered losses of health, finances, loved ones.
Church splits and the fall of church leaders you greatly admired may have severely damaged your faith.
You may have slipped away from being part of a vibrant (and necessary) community because of so many hours at your job, maybe other responsibilities, and for many of you maybe you’re just feeling tired and plain worn out emotionally, spiritually, physically. There are often other contributors to the state of isolation you find yourself. Saturday or Sunday may be the only day you have off, so you may have stayed home from going to your congregation…once, twice, and then suddenly you realize you haven’t been to worship in weeks, months, years. You may have been saddened and offended that no one even noticed you have been missing, causing you to withdraw into your shell, your island, even more.
No man or woman was created to be alone, no one is supposed to bear that “island” mentality.
The Lord, your Creator, didn’t-DOESN’T-intend for you to live that way. This line of thought smells like smoke-it is from the pit!
Recognize that the risk of becoming cloistered and isolated is dangerous; and fan the flames of dormant friendships.
Reconcile offenses, take the first step forward, forgive others as the Lord has so graciously forgiven you.
Are you feeling the crushing weight of adversity? “Consider : ” A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” Proverbs 17:17
Overwhelmed by anxiety?
Consider: “Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs him down, but a kind word cheers him up.” Proverbs 12:25
I would like to ask you plainly, perhaps bluntly:
Where have you fixed your vision, on Jesus, the Author and Perfector on our FAITH, or on yourself and the trials you’re going through?
Are you finding yourself struggling with unbelief and faithlessness? Get back into a daily quiet time and reading of the God’s Word.
“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God.” Romans 10:17
Fearful? ” God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of love, courage, and a sound mind.”
Beloved, there is strength in numbers, in community.
My prayer for each of you, for us all, is that we will all be in community, not islands.
“How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together, in unity….”