Saturday, May 9
“It is not good for man to be alone . . .” (Genesis 2:18)
These words began human history. Adam, the original man, had already been made. But he was alone. Solo. It was not good. The Lord needed a suitable partner for him. The animals would not do, even if they could provide some comfort. But comfort dogs will not do as business partners, much less life partners. We need
human
community. It is not good for human beings to be alone, isolated from other human beings. It is not good to be in quarantine. It is not good to wear masks with our friends and fidget uneasily as we remind ourselves to keep “social distance.” This pandemic is not good.
Ironically, this pandemic has pushed us further and deeper into virtual relationships. Another person’s address book or friend list has become an extension of my face. The blogosphere has become an extension of my consciousness. YouTube has become my go to instructor and Vimeo has become my church. My self, my community, is out there, perpetually. I enter and exit, engage and disengage, by pulling the device out of my pocket, looking down, and swiping or typing. Am I alone, or not? Is this real? Is this good?
Amid such uncertainties and confusion God’s Word keeps us anchored. The same Lord who said, “It is not good for Adam to be alone,” said to his friends—his partners, “I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. You will see me. When I am with my Father, I will be in you, and you will be in me” (John 14: 18-20). These truths are for us. We are not alone. God is with us. But oddly enough, when this God is with us we have
human
connection as well. This human connection with God is as real as it is seemingly virtual. The “I in you, you in Me” relationship is something we receive. We do not initiate it. It is not a figment of our imagination. It is what empowers prayer and it is why we can hear God’s voice.
Take extra time to listen. Ask. Seek. Knock. Talk to your Father about everything. Get your Lord’s perspective. Trust the Holy Spirit. Find out how “not alone” you really are. When you know Reality, you will no longer have to wonder whether it is “virtual” or not.
Prayer: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening . . .”
