No Man or Woman is an Island
The phrase, “No man is an island” was coined by an English poet, John Donne (1572-1631). I have quoted this phrase many times when ministering to Christians; as a matter of fact, I will tell anyone that our God never created us to do LIFE alone.
So often people forget that we are human connections, and there are many reasons why people close themselves off from others. No one is fully satisfied when they say that they are sufficient by themselves, and others find it difficult to be healed by themselves when they feel wounded by something or someone. Our healing and growth comes from interacting with others.
When we have been wounded by others, become ill, or hurt by life itself, it is vital for our own spiritual, emotional, and mental health to talk to God and to reach out to the Body of Christ. “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:14-16).
We are not self-sufficient nor do we have all the answers. We need input from others and others need our input to grow and mature as well. “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise” (Proverbs 19:20). “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).
There is a song that our group of ladies sing at the end of our monthly fellowship: “You’re my brother, you’re my sister, so take me by my hand. Together we will work until HE comes. No foe can defeat us when we are walking side by side, so take me by my hand; as long as we have love we will stand.” (Robert Frost)
So often people forget that we are human connections, and there are many reasons why people close themselves off from others. No one is fully satisfied when they say that they are sufficient by themselves, and others find it difficult to be healed by themselves when they feel wounded by something or someone. Our healing and growth comes from interacting with others.
When we have been wounded by others, become ill, or hurt by life itself, it is vital for our own spiritual, emotional, and mental health to talk to God and to reach out to the Body of Christ. “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:14-16).
We are not self-sufficient nor do we have all the answers. We need input from others and others need our input to grow and mature as well. “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise” (Proverbs 19:20). “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).
There is a song that our group of ladies sing at the end of our monthly fellowship: “You’re my brother, you’re my sister, so take me by my hand. Together we will work until HE comes. No foe can defeat us when we are walking side by side, so take me by my hand; as long as we have love we will stand.” (Robert Frost)