no man is an island
“No man is an island”…. at least that’s how the song goes.
I’ve pondered this concept on a few occasions in my life. Nothing on a large scale though, just decisions here and there. Until month 8 of the race. Where my team and I were sent to San Andres, Colombia. An Island in the Caribbean. And that’s when I discovered the truth in this statement, “no man is an island.”
In theory an island sounds great. It’s just you and the water and the sand. No problems. Whatever problems you have, you get to leave behind on the mainland. It’s all good!! But theory often doesn’t match reality. And for me, this month on the island was no “sea-breeze”.
You see, by the time month 8 of the race roles around you’re tired. The excitement of traveling to new places and experiencing new things has worn off. The “honeymoon phase” of community is most certainly over and the prospect of home sounds more appealing by the second. Bottom line…. you’re exhausted. At least that’s how it was for me.
To be completely honest, I was over it. I was tired of having the same conversation over and over again without any result. Starting at square one with relationships and having “small talk” for days on days without going any deeper was draining. And doing ministry day after day and not seeing a tangible outcome gets old. I felt like a hamster in one of those wheels, running but not making any progress.
I thought going to the island with the beach (a very special place for me and Jesus) would be good. It would give me time to reset and regroup. It was the oasis I had been hoping for.
Then I arrived in San Andres, Colombia and all of those things I was hoping to leave on the “mainland” came with me. Not only did they come with me, they came at a head. And I had a choice to make. I could either stay an island, or I could go back to the mainland.
I think islands appeal to our desires of wanting isolation. Islands are safe. Islands are separate. Islands are not accountable to everything else the mainland is doing. Islands hide easier.
I came into month 8 wanting to be an island. Wanting to be alone. Wanting no accountability. Wanting to hide. I wanted to let the mainland be the mainland and me be me.
But what I learned this month is that “no man is an island.” At least no man who follows Jesus.
Jesus created community. He created us to be relational. He created us with desires of belonging and being known. And when we choose to be islands, we choose to leave behind those things God created us for. And after a while those desires become too strong and we can’t stay an island any more.
We find ourselves longing to go back to the mainland and we find ourselves longing to be a part of something bigger.
Community looks different in different seasons. Sometimes its family or friends or school or work. Right now, community for me is The Race. Community is my team, my squad and Jesus. They are my “mainland”. I can choose to be an island and I can exist as an island. But I am created to thrive as part of the “mainland”.
Maybe you’re trying to be an island. Maybe you were where I was (tired) and you need to be an island right now. I don’t know…. But what I do know is “no man is an island” and I encourage you (sooner rather than later) to go back to the mainland.
