Lately, a few of my counseling sessions with people will be about the need for community or family. And, a few have expressed the challenges of working through past hurts and trust community or family again. And, of course, I think that a good church can be a great community where an individual can find spiritual healing. A kind of church community that has a proper understanding of grace and love. And, I am reading several books on the topic of community. Personally, I am glad for the communities (past and present) that God has blessed me with! But, there are some people that may not have the same experience. In fact, some people prefer to be alone and not be involved in a church community. And, I came across this interesting information about a pop song.
Paul Pettit states, “In 1965, Paul Simon touched many lonely souls with the release of his classic pop/folk song, ‘I am a Rock.’ This blue solo is the self-declaration of a wounded soul who had been hurt one too many times. He now protects himself by disconnecting from others and, in seclusion, making himself a rock or an island to himself. However, Simon explained, ‘The loneliest people in the world are those that cannot share their loneliness, through fear, pride, or anger. The ache builds walls, fear populates their dreams, and pride is the jailor of the soul.'” (Taken from Foundations of Spiritual Formation: A Community Approach in Becoming Christ Like, 82).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Is it risky to open up to others who may hurt you? Why is self-protected isolation far worse? Why is it important to find a healthy church with a proper understanding of the grace of God? How has the comfort of others been enjoyable? How is love of a close-knit community healing for the aching heart?
