Alone/Community

This is for The Project. It was inspired by Maya Angelou's "Alone"

I was sitting, thinking a couple nights ago. People were not meant to be alone. It’s not ok or normal that so many people just exist with no one really caring. How is it that you hear on the news of people who died six weeks ago and no one noticed that they were gone? They’ve been lying dead in their living room for weeks. That’s outrageous! Are we all too busy to care? Are we scared of getting to know someone? Maybe it’s that to have a relationship you have to make yourself vulnerable. I don’t know what it is, however, it’s unacceptable and inexcusable.

In this country, generally speaking, we think we have everything we need, if we stop and think about it we really have more than we need. We have food, housing, cars, clothes, jobs, entertainment, etc, etc. But, what about our basic needs of companionship and community? It is so important to have a connection with other people, to recognize that you are part of a much bigger picture.

Almost every time a horrific crime is committed against humanity it is perpetuated by someone who was known as a loner, who did not have any friends, few connections to other people. What if the perpetrator could have allowed him self to be part of a community? Would the outcome be different? Would history be changed? “It is the insensibility of one human being towards another, the failure to realize what is passing in another human being’s heart, the lack of sympathy, which is the cause of so much cruelty of man towards man.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky

What if we made more of an effort in our day to day lives? You never know the impact that something simple may have on someone’s life. An encouraging word for the frazzled mom in the grocery store, a “thank you” to the bank teller, dinner for a hungry college student, really, how hard would it be to take a couple minutes and encourage someone?

I challenge each and every one of us to reach out this week. Tell a stranger hello, thank someone for a daily task and be a little vulnerable. Maybe you will be able to see what is passing in another’s heart and they will be able to see into yours.

Peace.