I've been thinking about how society puts a heavy emphasis on "self-reliance." It's almost like a badge of honor, as if being able to do everything by oneself is the pinnacle of success. The older I get, though, the more I realize just how overrated this idea is. I'm coming to see that anything truly worth doing is worth doing in deep fellowship with other people and, most importantly, in surrender to the divine.
There's this notion that you can fulfill your life's purpose all by yourself, like a solo flight cutting through the sky. But let's be real—without the wind to support you, you're not flying; you're just falling with style. We're not built to go it alone; we're designed for community, for leaning on each other, for drawing strength from the bonds we share.
I think about 1 Corinthians 12:12-14: "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many." We're part of something bigger, and our roles, as diverse as they are, are interconnected. You can't just be a hand or a foot and expect to operate independently; it's about working in harmony with the rest of the body.
And let's not forget God's role in all of this. If you ever think you've got life all figured out, that you're fully equipped to handle all of life's challenges on your own, well, try dealing with something that's divinely orchestrated. You'll quickly find out just how unequipped you are. I've been there; I've had my moments of arrogance, thinking I could do it all. But God has a way of humbling us, doesn't He?
I'm reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." The truth is, we're nothing without God. Our deepest, truest desires—the noblest missions we could possibly undertake—can only be fulfilled with His guidance and support. When I let go of my own ego and submit to the divine, only then do I find the clarity and strength to move forward.
So, as I navigate the challenges and opportunities that life throws my way, I'm learning to shift my focus. It's not just about self-reliance. It's about community, it's about divine surrender, and it's about recognizing that I am but a small part of a much larger, infinitely wiser plan. And honestly, that realization is far more empowering than any notion of going it alone.