What a dark subject for the beautiful days we have been enjoying, or at least the cool mornings! I promise not to go too dark in talking about death but it is an important topic. Many of you have probably heard me say that Ecclesiastes is one of if not my favorite book in the Bible. Ecclesiastes 7:2 (CSB) It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, since that is the end of all mankind, and the living should take it to heart.
I never make movie recommendations because I am notorious for forgetting any bad parts, if I fast forward through it I forget it even happened. That’s my disclaimer and by no means am I recommending this movie, the story makes the point without needing to watch the movie! There was a movie I remember seeing called Second-Hand Lions. It is about two old men who do nothing all day until their nephew comes to stay with them. They had both been adventurous in the past and he sparks new ideas for them to take on. Among other things they do adopt a “defective” lioness and they buy an old airplane that they fly under overpasses and in other death-defying stunts. At the end of the movie they try flying the plane through their barn doors but crash and die instead. The impression you get is that they wanted to go out in some blazing glory type of way rather than through age or sickness. If you love history like I do you have read about Vikings wanting their death to come in battle in an epic way. Or you can insert any gladiator/war/Viking movie character you know that might have said “a good death is hard to find” or something similarly bravado. Many of us probably hope to die peacefully surrounded by friends and family. The real point I am hoping to make is actually not about the end-of-life death that we will all experience.
Rather, I am highlighting a type of death that we all have a choice over each day. There is a slow and agonizing death that comes from isolation. Many of us choose or have chosen at times in our lives to isolate ourselves from others. Often addiction, despair, depression, or anxiety will either proceed or result from this isolation. I would bet that none of us would point to a season where we isolated ourselves as also being a season of spiritual growth or closeness to God. The Christian faith is by design meant to be lived with other people, other people outside of our immediate families.
A common enemy of being connected is our “busyness” and it is a great tool that the enemy or we ourselves use to isolate ourselves from others. When we are constantly going it is hard for us to make time for other or be slowed down enough to actually connect with people when we do have time with them. I am guilty of this as the next person and I am working on it. One thing I have seen though is an intentional busyness that people use on purpose as an excuse to have their own lives separated from others. This is dangerous.
Relationships are messy, hurtful, and not systematic and for most of us, that means we sometimes like them less than the more ordered part of our lives. The problem is that our rough edges never get exposed or rounded off without them. We also never actually disciple anyone if we aren’t in real relationships with them. The great commission and our own spiritual health are unattainable without healthy connections with other believers. So… join a small group! Or find someone to mentor you! Or be a mentor! If you need any help getting connected email me, will@gccnewton.com.
Blessings!
Will Regier