Waking Together

BY JAVIER MENDOZA

he bible describes "a cord of three strands [as] not easily broken" as an allusion to the fact that we are not meant to do life alone.

In the first book of the bible we are told of the story of creation and how after looking at everything He created God sees that everything is " good" but concludes that it was "not good" that man was alone and therefore set about to make woman.

In life, at times, it is encouraged or even celebrated when people do things or achieve goals "on their own". We give extra accolades to inventors or founders as if they did all of the work on their own. We honor singular leadership as

something to strive for even though many institutions are far from the monarchal rule we project.

I think of democratic governments that have elected leaders who abide by code of conduct upheld by the plural leadership of a supreme court or held in check and balance by members of a larger and separate congress.

Board rooms of people direct business and banks in order to stay in compliance. Churches and organizations like Connect Global, yield oversight and legal governance to a group of people who care deeply for the organizations mission and its founders and directors.

Not much is truly achieved alone.

At first the idea of accomplishing something on your own can seem like a noble pursuit. It can feel like something to brag about or even be more proud of but really it is something to avoid.

Doing life alone can be lonely. I know that seems like an over simplification but really I believe that going at it alone is something we should not be allowing ourselves to do.

WE NEED OTHERS

People are complicated beings but we need to find ways in which to communicate, and collaborate as best we can. Culture needs to move past it' s idiosyncratic ways of idolizing independence and pursue others. The reality of life is that no matter the circumstances we are rarely ever truly alone but if we are not careful we can in fact isolate ourselves from community.

The greatest inventions, biggest successes, and highest mountains are never traversed without key partners, committed co laborers and experienced sherpas helping us make the trail possible.

Here at Connect Global, we are blessed to have many partners and co laborers walking this journey with us. From Pastors to board members to friends and family we have been surrounded by people who care for us in both spiritual and familial ways. People who call and text before we can just to check in, and people who answer the phone to hear how great and or how not so great our day or week was.

It is people like Jason and Bonnie Ruth who, for one example, will hold your arms up when you get tired and are the type of people who keep you going when you may feel like giving up.

It takes work to build community but it is worth it. It takes time but it will pay off in the long run. I encourage you to find people who you can truly count on and be the type of person who can be counted on. Show up for others, pick up the phone when you think of someone to check on them, and be the person who drops a handwritten note in the mail just to say Hi.

You will make a difference by being there with and for others and what you invest in comes back or as the bible says, you reap what you sow. Walking together is what we were made to do and I hope you will be the person who makes the first move.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! — Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Ecclesiastes 4: 9- 12