Wild horses depend on their herd to survive. A horse without a herd will spend hours, days, even weeks staying on the outskirts of the herd with lowered head and body posture seeking safety. In his desperation, he may try to fight his way in which will only get him further rejected. Alone, the horse will certainly die, he becomes an easy target for predators.
Isolation from community can certainly have a way of discouraging us… the enemy knows that if he can get us alone in our thoughts he can start to interject discouraging things that sound like our own voice. Lies that tell us this will never end, we’re doomed to be alone forever, we won’t survive this. Fears that God isn’t who He says He is, that His heart isn’t kind and loving and just and that His plans for us are good, especially when our circumstances seem to agree with the lie. The Bible tells us to “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) but also tells us that “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiasties 4:12).
In this time when we are required to “socially distance” being in community can feel near impossible you can take steps to connect with your people that are perhaps a bit unconventional in our modern world: while we have texting, email, face time, zoom, and all of the wonder conveniences of technology, consider writing a letter on hand-made stationary. I can almost guarantee if you purpose to hand make cards with each recipient in mind and send them to your core group of friends that you will realize your community is close and physical distance doesn’t seem like such a gap. Don’t neglect getting connected in creative ways in this season. It will come to an end and we will joyfully get to gather in person again.
(Written by Carissa Ramsdell)