Today’s Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

When I was in school, I absolutely hated group projects. Lots of people say that, I know, but I really hated them, especially when the groups were assigned. I never seemed to be well-matched with my partner! When it comes to group work, it seems like whomever is the most organized ends up doing the majority of the work. Sometimes that was me, but sometimes I had to work with someone way more organized than me who just didn’t trust me to help. It added this additional layer of stress that would have been eliminated if I could have just worked by myself and done things my way. Have you had that feeling before?

I don’t think anything magically changes when we become adults – sometimes, the truth is that it is much easier to do things ourselves than it is to collaborate with another person. Today’s scripture is a great reminder, though, that we aren’t intended to “go it alone” all the time. We are called to live in community, to work together and to support and uphold one another. While trusting and engaging others may add an additional challenge, it also adds some additional blessings: it provides us an opportunity to open our minds and learn from one another; it has the potential to increase our creativity and original thinking; and it gives us a chance to listen and be spiritually generous.

Does partnering and collaborating with others come naturally to you or are you the type of person who prefers to go it alone? Is there a relationship in your life (either at work or at home) where you wish you could work together with someone more smoothly? If so, I invite you to offer a prayer for that relationship and for your work together: that you both might increase your kindness, patience, and humility.