Coming Together

Being alone and isolated is a reality for many people today, so this image of God’s people coming together gives me hope. Jesus taught that we are to love our neighbours and yet we live in communities where many are strangers.

There is a New York City photographer who randomly chooses his subjects, strangers to each other, from the streets of that city. With their permission, he photographs them as if they were long-time friends. He reports that as he begins to pose them, a remarkable feeling of connection develops. His published photos are those of people who appear to be best friends. They are holding hands, leaning comfortably on each other and looking into each other’s eyes. His project may prove the truth in the old adage, “There are no strangers here, only friends that we haven’t yet met.”

This year let us look for opportunities to share God’s love with our neighbours. Is there someone on your street or perhaps a regular at the mall that needs a kind word or a smile?

Loving God, you call your children to be in relationship with each other. Open our eyes to the people around us who need a kind word. Amen. — BLF