You Are Not an Island

“I wish you never thought you had to go
Wish you never thought you had to leave
Together we can lift each other up
We can build a shelter for the weak

 

No man is an island, we can be found
No man is an island, let your guard down
You don't have to fight me, I am for you
We're not meant to live this life alone

 

I see fear in your eyes
There's no safety here
Oh, my friend, let me in
I will share your tears

 

Through trouble, rain, or fire
Let's reach out to something higher
Ain't no life outside each other
We are not alone
Through trouble, rain, or fire
Let's reach out to something higher
Eyes open to one another
We are not alone

 

No man is alone
Why you try to fight me
We don't have to do it alone
We don't have to do it alone
We don't have to do it alone”

 

- Tenth Avenue North - 

 

I heard these lyrics while driving the other day and I had to pull over – the tears made it impossible to see where I was going. “Yes,” I said aloud, "That’s what I say in my mind to Matthew every day: I wish you never thought you had to go, wish you never thought you had to leave… no man is an island... you don’t have to fight me... I am for you... we’re not meant to live this life alone.” But he FELT alone. He saw himself as an island, far removed from any other land mass. Somehow I couldn’t reach him. Or maybe he knew he was loved but it wasn’t enough to counterbalance the unending litany of pain that flooded him every day. All I know is that he left.

 

I can’t bring him back. I can’t undo what he did to himself in one supreme moment of feeling alone. But I can sing this song to you: “Together we can lift each other up; we can build a shelter for the weak. We don’t have to do it alone.” No matter who you are reading this post, you ARE NOT AN ISLAND. Don’t believe it. It’s simply not true. You don’t have to do it alone. In the Body of Christ, we are one and you are a part of something bigger than yourself. We. Are. One.

 

If you feel strong will you sing it with me? Will you sing it to every person in your life? Will you let this become the refrain of your life? Will you move through each day aware that those around you may feel alone and as isolated as a tiny atoll in the vast ocean? Will you be a connector – a bridge-builder – a singer of hopeful songs to the weary? We. Are. One.