9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NRSV
“How are you doing?”
“Is everyone healthy?”
“Do you have everything you need?”
If your experience of this season of coronavirus has been anything like mine, you’ve asked those questions more times in the past month than you have in the past year. My husband and I have been checking in with friends and relatives — particularly those who might be at higher risk for coronavirus.
It’s not that we never checked in on our loved ones before all this… but now, coronavirus has made those check-ins more important, more vital, more urgent. Coronavirus has made our connections more important, more vital, more urgent. We know that we need each other, that we’re in this together.
#AloneTogether. That’s how one of the TV commercials referred to it. #AloneTogether. It’s a hashtag that captures our new, strange reality: even though we’re separated, distanced, staying apart, staying “alone”… we’re in this together. And that means connecting with one another, in all the safe ways we can.
Over the past several days, I’ve been gratified by the emails I’ve received from some of you, asking if you can help check in on the people of our Wesley Church family — especially those who might be particularly at risk, or particularly “alone.” Even in the midst of social distancing, you’ve continued to be “people blessing people.” You’ve asked for directories and contact information. You’ve offered to field requests, run errands, and deliver groceries. You’ve reached out, asking, “What can I do? How can I help?” (As it happens, Pastor Debbie, our Pastor of Congregational Care, is organizing that at this moment! Contact her by emailing pastordebbie@wesleychurch.com if you’d like to help.) Social distancing may cause us to be “alone”… but you’re making it possible for us to be “alone together.”
And it’s important, friends. It’s important, and vital, and urgent. Ecclesiastes reminds us of that. This ancient book of wisdom speaks to this present moment, with these words: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NRSV). Ecclesiastes, in all its wisdom, reminds us: this world is a rough place to go it alone. We do better with help. We do better in teams. We do better together.
Wesley Church, you are not alone. Not a single one of you. We are here for each other, and we are here for you. There are connections that bind us together, no matter how long it’s been since we’ve sat next to each other in the sanctuary. Now is the time for us to make those connections all the more visible and palpable. So each day, make an intentional effort — in safe, socially-distant ways, of course — to do that, to reach out and check in and connect.
This world has always been a rough place to go it alone. This world, touched by coronavirus? Even more so. So don’t go it alone, friends… and don’t let others go it alone, either. Be #AloneTogether.
And remember, friends:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
Blessings,
Pastor Candy
Want to know more?
- Learn about our church and its ministries: https://wesleychurch.com/
- Make a gift to support our mission: https://wesleychurch.com/giving-2/
- View our recent messages: https://wesleychurch.com/sermon-message-on-video/
- View previous devotionals: https://wesleychurch.com/pastor-candys-devotionals-2/
