ART & INSPIRATION FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER
When I think about community, I tend to stick close to home. Venturing out in the world and the uncertainty of it all can be frightening. It requires a certain amount of courage to reach out beyond our circle of friends. Even before Covid and its isolation, we had become somewhat a nation of hermits, watching the world through computer screens and social media. The electronic age has been a boon to mankind because we live in a world of instant everything. Unfortunately, that fact has done a number on our social tendencies. Meeting face to face – conversation – communication skills – mentoring – and hands on working together have all taken a hit with this new form of friendship and community.
The painting for today shows a group of people gathering together. The people are dressed to the nines. They have a mission of coming together to talk, share ideas, perhaps eat or worship together. I think the point is, we are losing one of our most important tools as human beings. It is not good for man to be alone. God realized the need for mankind to have others to share with, to live with, to talk with, to communicate ideas and solutions for day to day issues. There’s a lot to be said for friendship and companionship.
Dear Lord, you created us with the ability to encourage one another. We have by your hand received the gifts of empathy, compassion and communication. Let us never forget that you are always available to hear our prayers, but we have an obligation to stay in touch with those we come into contact with each day. Give us the wisdom to share your love with others. Amen!
atimetoshare.me 
You speak of stepping out being frightening. I had to teach a class in Tangshan, a city about a two-hour drive from Beijing, China. I had a subject matter expert who had never been outside the US and this was only my third trip to China, never “leading the expedition.” I asked for a Chinese cellphone. The VP that hated me for no “good” reason refused, but the company secretary (the one that really runs things) slipped me one in private before I went to the airport. We were to arrive to find someone holding a sign with my name on it. The driver was not there. No one spoke English. I had talked to the “illegal taxi service” manager’s boyfriend, a guy who worked with me on occasion. He said if anything goes wrong, call her phone number. I called and the phone rang off the wall. We waited an hour, still no answer. Then fifteen minutes or so when we were about to go to the ticket window for a ride home, the phone rang. She apologized. Then she called back thirty minutes later. The driver was hung up in traffic. About another half hour and the driver asked if we were the people he was coming to pick up. At that point, we were the only western looking people outside the baggage claim area. Yes, traveling can be very scary indeed. I made two more trips to China, the last one alone. After you have been taught by God that we rely on Him instead of shady taxi services or someone who will be there – guaranteed. God is always there.
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