People like to be together. We like to congregate. We are a gregarious bunch. There is comfort in being together. There is excitement in being together. We need each other – we learn from each other, we help each other.
In the book of Genesis, after God made Adam, He said that it was not good that man should be alone. So He made Eve. And Adam and Eve were together, and they were together with God. This was the foundation of togetherness.
Then Adam and Eve started having children and they were together as a family. Then their children had children who had children and so on, so the earth’s population exploded, but they still were together. However, as the number of people multiplied, they became separate families. This was the natural progression as they became further removed from the original family.
Ancient societies were developed by families being together and then banding together with other families to form groups. This was not only what they wanted to do; it was necessary for their survival. People traveled in caravans, they lived together in walled cities, they worked together in the fields. They were together because everyone’s help was needed to get the work done; and because there was safety in numbers.
This brings up an interesting point. From the beginning, it was God’s design that people be together, and be together with Him. But all along the way, there was also an opposing force endeavoring to separate people from each other and from God. The serpent beguiled Eve and as a result, Adam and Eve’s relationship with God was broken. Then their family relationship was decidedly harmed by their son killing his brother. And that was just in the beginning. Evil has always opposed the ways of God and is still at work today.
Now, after that brief history lesson, we move on to talk about what I really want to discuss, which is being together with each other.
Usually, we learn about being together in our families. Families provide a loving environment and a nurturing haven for children to learn and grow. There is comfort and security in the family setting. Families take care of each other and protect one another. Surrounded by this kind of family atmosphere, children can thrive. Then, when they’re grown, they can do the same for their family.
Families offer a cornucopia of opportunities for learning about being together. Think about it. Our parents show us about love, care and concern, and giving by their example. Often, we first learn about sharing with our siblings. (that can be a tough one!) We learn to be considerate of others, we learn to be dependable, we learn to trust and to be trustworthy, and much more. Of course, all these things can be learned outside the family unit, but how much better it is to learn in an environment of love with people who genuinely care about your well-being!
The best part about families is that they are dynamic. People are constantly learning and growing. And families manage to adapt to the changes and remain together. When parents learn new things, they teach their children. And children teach their parents as well. As time passes family relationships change. Children grow up, move out, and start their own families. But they are all still a family.
BUT, as I mentioned before, there is an opposing force that would like nothing better than to destroy the family unit. Ever since the time of Adam and Eve, the family has been a target for destruction. Because of that, many families are torn apart nowadays. People fall prey to circumstances that cause broken homes, overwhelming life pressures, fighting and resentment, and more. All of which muddy the comfortable and secure family environment. Consequently, the togetherness of the family becomes damaged or non-existent. The good news is that God had a plan for that eventuality. He is able to bring people into our lives to fill the gap if the family is missing. Friends, teachers, counselors, etc., can provide care and direction that otherwise might be absent.
Even when we have a great family, togetherness doesn’t stop there. Think of all the people you know outside your family who have influenced your life. Friends come to mind. We meet people and tend to bond with those with whom we have common interests or similar ideals. And they become our friends. Friends expose us to new perspectives, ideas, and experiences beyond our family circle. They broaden our horizons. Friendships can become as close as family and sometimes can help us in ways our family can’t. And the great thing about friends is that we can have as many of them as we want. My mom always said that if you want a friend, be a friend. So if you want a lot of friends, be really friendly! And don’t we just love to hang out with a bunch of our friends? We love being together and it’s even more fun if we can throw some family in the mix!
We can have a million friends, but there will always be those whose souls connect with ours. Those are our best friends. They are a valuable and beautiful find. I am privileged to have a few of them in my life and each one has an incredibly special place in my heart. I think of them as sisters. I love them as much (almost) as my own sister. And I cherish our times together.
Of course there are many other people who affect our lives. Life provides situations for us to be together with students, coworkers, neighbors, teammates and hobby enthusiasts to name a few. In addition to that, all kinds of people can touch our lives, maybe by a simple smile in the grocery store. People might stop to lend a hand; or brighten our day with a kind word. These brief encounters can leave their marks on our memories. And the one thing that all these examples have in common, is being together. People like to be together.
But having a loving family, great friends and all those other people, was not God’s grand plan for being together. He wanted even more for us. His plan from the beginning of time, was for us to be together with Him in His family. God provided a family for anyone (and everyone!) who believes. He opened the doors wide to His living room and invited all of us in. He provided a family to those whose didn’t have one. He gave us brothers and sisters who were not only family, but also friends. He gave us a group that is stronger than any opposition. And He is our heavenly Father now and for all eternity. Together forever!
So, although we are guaranteed to be together with God in His family forever, we still need human companionship now. We need our physical families, our friends, acquaintances, and especially our family of God. We need to see each other’s smile and feel each other’s touch. We need to hear each other’s voice. We need to be together.
Together is the best place to be!
Note to my readers: In our fast-paced society that has no time to be together, stop and find a minute of togetherness, even if it’s just a smile in the grocery store.