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May Day, May Day
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
John Donne, the 17th century English poet wrote a poem entitled “No Man Is An Island” to express the need to be dependent on one another. God made us all different in looks, personalities, desires, skill, talents, likes, and dislikes. No one, and I mean no one that has ever lived on earth, except for Jesus Christ, of course, is sufficient unto himself or herself. I’ve never been in prison, thank the Lord, but as bad as being locked up must be, I would think that being put in solitary confinement would be the most difficult time in a prisoner’s incarceration. Imagine not seeing anyone except maybe a guard three times a day for a very brief time. No one with whom to carry on a conversation or to just keep company with would be like living without hope.
After Job lost his children and his wealth, he sat down to mourn alone until three so-called friends showed up. For the first week, they just sat with him in silence, just to let him know that he wasn’t alone. They should have remained silent for their words when they began to speak were no help to him. However, their presence, even if they became annoying, would likely have been better than grieving alone. I suppose their intentions were noble, but like many of us, they didn’t realize that silent support is sometimes better than filling the air with platitudes and proposed reasons for one’s suffering. A squeeze of the hand or an arm around the one who is sad can do more than empty words.
There was a song recorded several years ago: “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” I don’t believe in luck because I believe that God orchestrates events in the lives of people for His purposes. What we might call “good luck” is really a blessing from Almighty God. What we call “bad luck” is something that occurs because we live in a sin-cursed world. However, the premise of the song is correct. The need for fellowship, companionship, and most of all love and acceptance is rooted in the heart of folks. People seek affirmation from others. I think one of the biggest desires among folks is that their lives matter to others. One of the greatest goals among men and women is that they make a difference in the lives of others. Love, appreciation, affirmation, and acceptance cannot be attained alone. God made us to have relationships, first with Him through Christ, but also with each other. It takes teamwork, all of us working together in order to build up His kingdom.
Solomon’s verse reminds me of the old television commercial where the old lady falls down and says, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”. We all need friends to help us up, support us, and pray for us. As Joe Cocker sang years ago, “I’ll get by with a little help from my friends”.