Baboons and Cheetahs

It's funny how the strangest things can get my attention and lead me off in a direction that may have nothing to do with anything.

Today that happened. I was reviewing my Spam folder prior to emptying it. Near the top was one with the subject line "We need people BAD!" (It was from "Research Group".)

I read that and my thought immediately was "That's what I was saying yesterday!"

We need people BAD. I've heard a lot of people in my life say "Oh, I don't do church. I mean, I believe in God, but I commune with God alone, not in church."

Well, I can respect that. I too commune with God alone. I love sitting on a beach, or on a mountain top, in the middle of a desert or a snowy prairie, and connecting with my Divine Companion. Just the two of us, preferably (but not necessarily) under a wide, cloud-free, starry sky. My Companion speaks to me there, or just cradles me, my head against His shoulder (in those times, my Companion is definitely present to me as male.)

But we need people BAD. It's the tinder of numerous voices lifted in song, praise and worship to the Companion of All that keeps the spark glowing. I need that too. As much as I need the quiet times beneath starry skies.

And whether or not folks admit it, I really think we ALL need the group. Today, my references to the Divine Other specifically refer to that Reality as Companion. God is our Divine Companion, walking with us wherever - WHEREVER - we sojourn. It is that Companion who caused us to be; and I believe that Companion which causes us to be social creatures, not solitary ones.

Some of us are largely social, for whom a little quiet time now and then is nice. Others of us are largely private, for whom social time now and then is healthy.

But ya know, I don't care whether one is primarily social, or primarily private. Sojourning alone or in groups, we all must seek out the Companion.

Baboons and Cheetahs.