Life Is Not a Solo Journey
Thought of the Week
Life is not a solo journey.
Fall is the best season. There is no comparison. Cooler temperatures, changing leaves, looming holidays, and, of course, playoff baseball.
Every year, my wife and I are like little kids drawn into our favorite sport. Of course, growing up in New England gives us a team to root for all year, but even when they are out of the picture, we are delighted with the final leg of the baseball season.
As we snuggle in on cool nights, we watch the best teams in baseball compete for a chance to win the championship. We get to know teams we haven’t followed closely before and come to recognize familiar faces as each team fights its way through the playoffs.
No matter who comes out on top at the end of the season, the most obvious point is that a championship is never won by a single player's merit. Of course, there are amazing swings of the bat or diving catches that can seal a win, but before that happens, the team must work hard together to reach that final moment.
How true this is in our own lives.
We are created as relational beings. Some of us are extroverts, and others are introverts, but at the end of the day, something deeply wired within each of us craves belonging. God made us this way. He made us to be dependent on Him and on others.
The further I move through life, the more I’ve learned that success and happiness come when I’m in the presence of others. I can work hard on my own and accomplish many things, but if I’m trying to make a major impact, I must invite others into my life. I must choose to work with others and allow our collective efforts to make a much bigger impact than I can on my own.
I recently heard a quote: “The lone wolf dies alone.”
Being a lone wolf may sound cool, but it only ends in loneliness. No one is meant to be a “lone wolf,” and no championship team has a roster of “lone wolves.”
Accomplishing meaningful work requires a team effort. We are designed to live and work in community. This life is about accomplishing great things with others and celebrating victory as a team.
No matter what anyone says or what lie enters your mind, always remember: life is not a solo journey.
Know Him
“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”
— Genesis 2:18 (NIV)
Understand Yourself
Which part of your life feels lonely?
Do His Work
Be courageous this week. Invite someone you know and trust into a part of your life that feels lonely.