During the month of October, we intentionally focused on mental health awareness. We offered four Wednesday evening sessions, each with a special guest practitioner. We covered topics such as mental health and mental illness education; loss and grief in our families; available resources; and suicide awareness and prevention. The Sunday morning messages examined scriptures that offer hope and help, whether it’s we who are struggling, or a friend or family member. Many of you expressed your gratitude for this special series and we are grateful. It is an ongoing journey, and we will continue to advocate for mental health awareness. 

During the Wednesday night sessions, although they focused on different aspects of mental health and mental illness awareness, there was one theme that came up over and again: connecting with one another. Each of the guest speakers emphasized that one of the best ways to offer hope and help is to connect with others. In fact, earlier this year, the U.S. Surgeon General published a report which considers Loneliness and Isolation an epidemic. The report states that “lacking social connection is as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day or to drinking six alcoholic drinks a day.” This is very serious, but if you stop and think about it, we have a way to combat this epidemic which we’ve known since Jesus’ day: community.

God desires that we are in community.  We were made for relationship! God will never give up on us. God relentlessly pursues a relationship with us. He is always with us! This connection is what the New testament writers call “fellowship” which is translated from the Greek word, koinonia, where we live life “in common” or “in community.”   

As we journey together as God’s people, let us do our part to ensure that we are connected with our friends, classmates, church members and family. You never know when a simple phone call, meal or card in the mail will make a difference in someone’s life. Perhaps it’s just taking a few extra minutes to ask how someone is really doing.   

Perhaps this story might encourage you . . . It was late in the afternoon on Friday (10/27/23). I was mowing the lawn on my day off. I was at the top of the lawn near the house. When I made my turn to go downhill toward the street, a man had walked over toward me and was waving. I learned that he was a technician working on the county water line. I turned off my mower and lifted my earphones. He said, “Can you give me a jump?” (His battery had died.) 

I said, “Sure.” “Let me get my cables.” I retrieved my jumper cables from the garage and pulled the car down in front of his truck. We connected the jumper cables to the respective batteries and started up his truck. He was so thankful!  

The conversation could have ended there. However, I felt a nudge to talk with him. I learned his name was Jim. I said, “Do you have much more to do? I hope you are done for the day since it’s Friday.” He said, “I’m about done. In fact, my boss let me come in late and gave me a light day because I had a ‘crappy’ morning.”  

Then without me asking, he said, “I’m going through a divorce.” He lit up a cigarette and told me some of his struggles. I just tried to listen and be present. After a while, when I sensed the right time, I said, “I’m not sure whether you’re a religious person or not, but would you mind if I said a prayer for you?” And he said, “I would like that.” Jim removed his cap and said, “That would be a help.” Then he said, “I believe,” and quoted a couple Bible verses.  

We stood there between his truck and my car, and I said a brief prayer for Jim and his wife and for Jim’s teenage son who lives in Maryland and plays football. Then he got in his truck and went on his way.  

I hope this brief divine encounter will be a help to Jim in some small way. I know it was for me. May we be present to others and connect with them. We might be just the lifeline they needed. It’s the little things that can make the biggest difference! 

In Christ’s care and love,