Last Saturday, I had two complete strangers roll into my house and take most of my furniture. When they were done, I thanked them.
And gave them donuts.
These two strangers attend the same church as my family, and they came to help us move. Even though I had not met them, they came to help us move. In the month of August. In Phoenix.
Why would people do such a thing? The donuts were not that good. Our pastor asked them to, and that was enough.
I was talking with our pastor a week ago, and mentioned to him we were moving, but most of our friends were out of town.
Chris, that’s not right. Nobody should ever move alone. I will do what I can to find at least four men to help you.
Then he went and did it. He found four men to help us move. These crazy men showed up and moved my 1600 square foot home from one place to another in 180 minutes flat.
What studs! I’m not saying this just because this meant I didn’t spend all day slogging through the heat with my step-dad and my 12-year-old.
These men understood a truth it is too easy to forget:
When they saw a family about to live some part of their life alone, they stepped up. They sweated their butts off for three hours, all to remind me and my family we are never alone.
Solitary Lives
When times get rough, it is human nature to internalize everything. We decide we don’t want to bother people with our problems, so we just don’t.
We are ashamed we cannot do it alone, so we keep it all inside and let our soul sickness fester. We slink away and suffer alone, with problems that are far greater than a move from one side of Phoenix to another.
We were never created by God to lead solitary lives. We are made to be interdependent upon others whom we can trust.
Are your circumstances beyond your strength? Is your illness overwhelming you? Is your marriage weak?
Don’t go it alone – reach out for help.
You may find that strangers come and fill your life with blessing, like they did mine.
Chris, this is a beautiful story of what the church can, and should, be. Thanks for sharing!
It’s pretty awesome to be able to brag about my pastor and our church!
So true, Chris. What a great picture of community. Stuff we don’t want to ask for help with. And then God gives us community to walk with us through it. Such a gift. For me, in all honesty, I should probably ask for more help when it comes to being a mom. Thanks for this.
totally would have been there to help you move. but i was one of the out-of-town friends you mentioned. great post, chris. you have such a way of seeing the deeper truths in the ordinary moments of life.
So awesome!!!!!! Community is VITAL to (everyone’s) success!
Great topic Chris that so many people miss these days. I wrote a post on this a while back. Throughout the Bible God was always building a people. Even when he moved on one heart it impacted a community (Woman at the well). We were not created to go it alone.
A great reminder, Chris!
Brianna, it’s awesome we see where you could ask for more help. I remember telling my teenager he should learn from others rather than his own experiences. He asked me how good I am at this. I just laughed, then changed the subject. 🙂
I didn’t mean to target you. If you feel guilty enough, we still have plenty of unpacking to do, and you are welcome to help.
Right on Jim — we don’t even recognize our own biases at times, do we?
One of the best teachings I ever heard walked through our Father’s desire and intention for community, with us. it is far too easy to make Him the Aloof One, but this is not true. I believe part of the way we reflect the image of God is that we just work better in community.
Oh man, kids know just what to say, don’t they? 😉
I know a pastor whose catch-phrase is “Do it together sometimes.” Meaning, “I eat, you eat, let’s do it together sometimes.”
I like that Katie. So simple, so direct, so good