No Man or Woman is an Island

I’ve heard of little animals who prefer to be loners — leaving their packs to wander alone. But that shouldn’t be us — we were made to embrace connection. How can we love our neighbors as ourselves if we never connect with our neighbors?

Remember the story in the Bible of the shepherd pursuing that one little lamb that strayed from the others? He left the 99 to go after that one who was a bit rebellious and a loner. That shepherd knew that little lamb could fall in a pit or be prey to a predator if he wandered alone. (Luke 15:4).

God created the animal kingdom to be together and the human kingdom to be together. We all need each other. We need each other for caring, tenderness, hugs, and emotional support; connection, sharing love, learning and growing emotionally and spiritually.

We need companionship — sharing fun and laughter, adventure and everyday life and having each other’s back. We thrive when we feel connected and supported by each other, and we suffer when connection and support are not available. We had these needs as babies, and we never lose them.

King Solomon spoke to that in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his friend. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.”

Some of us prefer to be loners and go-it-alone. But that’s not what God planned for humanity or the animal kingdom. English poet, John Donne penned those words: “No man is an island”.

I was just 17 when I married my husband. Independence was new for me went he went to heaven nearly 13 years ago. I chose to love and embrace that new season of independence.

But God’s ways are higher than my ways, and what does He do? Nearly eight months ago, while serving for the 2022 November election, I met a co-worker who has changed my “independent” status. God blessed me with a precious, mighty man of God who served in the Army Reserves, is a proud Texas Tech graduate, an astute businessman, loyal friend to many, and a philanthropist who donates much of his time, money, experience, skills and talents to help children in impoverished areas, as well is an ambassador for good will at his church and several non-profit organizations. And, he has been an all-around remarkable friend to me.

Who knew that two widow(ers) could find such compatability? God did. This man, Carl Noble, is a proud Republican, working and serving in the Republican Party, so that affords me the opportunity to attend many political events and, most recently, to feel like a queen at the Reagan Gala with Former Texas Governor, Rick Perry, and Senator Ted Cruz.

I gave a bit of a “soft launch” about him (as my grands call it when they are gradually introducing a new girl or boyfriend with a “tease” photo) when we served for Camp Brave Heart a couple of weeks ago. I hadn’t realized that I was missing out on a wonderful friendship when I was being an “island”.

Now I realize independence isn’t what God called us to. We need each other. He didn’t call us to live on islands by ourselves or to roam by ourselves. We are here on this earth to touch others and affect others by our actions and our words.

We should be INTENTIONAL with our daily interactions. Every time we walk out our door to this world, we are carrying the LIGHT to brighten our world and other people’s lives with God’s love and peace.

We can leave an imprint on every person we meet — even in a small way — but, nothing is small in God’s sight when we allow His light to shine in and through us. We just might be a difference maker for someone today!

So, let’s get out of that “island mentality”, and get on the “crowded places mentality” — where we get to rub shoulders with others, and perhaps our LIGHT will rub off on them and they will start “shining”, too!