And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear God, there is just nothing like community. I cannot imagine going through this time of staying home during the pandemic as much as possible as a single person. But I’ve even noticed it with being separated from church. I’ve never really enjoyed going to church on Sunday morning. I’ve always done it out of self discipline. However, I can see the value in it in new ways now that I cannot attend in person.

I talked with two different executive directors of other nonprofits this week, and it was good for us to encourage each other. I talked with a friend this week who is also a husband and a father, and we shared some of our victories and our failures in those areas. We had a really hard, heartbreaking thing happen at work this week, and I hope I was able to be a comfort to some of my coworkers. I know that they were a comfort to me. I was able to take some groceries to a friend last night who cannot go to the grocery store. My wife and I were able to just sit down and enjoy an evening together last night after having met for a picnic lunch at a local park during the day. I even had a tricky thing to deal with professionally, and I was able to bring in select board members to help me think through it and pick the correct course of action–what we hope is the correct course of action (no one really knows for sure, I suppose). Community, community, community. We are not alone in this world. We need others who can be your audible voice of love, encouragement, wisdom, and even admonishment to us.

Father, as I get ready to sit and spend the next two hours writing letters to donors for our Center, I pray that you will use me as an encouragement to them. When I see an old high school friend later today, help me to be an encouragement to him. When I spend time with my wife or my father-in-law, encourage them through me. And use all of these people to encourage me. I need it too. I need your community. I heard the analogy once that wood and coal will burn longer and hotter if it is put with other wood and coal. If you pile pieces of coal up, they work together to burn better. But if you remove one of those coals from the pile, it will soon burn out. Help me to keep bringing my coal to the pile, and be with those right now who are isolated and are having a hard time being alone.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen