No Man Is An Island
Growing up in the ‘60’s, I’m a flower child. I wore the bell bottomed, hip hugging pants, ironed my long hair after washing it in various things that was supposed to make it shine. I was also influenced by the music culture of the day, especially the folk music of the day that carried messages of activism. I remember singing folk songs in school music and chorus classes was popular. One year, I was selected to sing in a small ensemble of vocalists and folk instruments for the spring concert, our song, “No Man Is an Island” was the song. It’s been stuck in my head ever since.
There are wonderful truths found in the lyrics of this folk song written by John Donne and made popular by the likes of Joan Baez.
No Man Is an Island
No man is an island,
No man stands alone,
Each man’s joy is joy to me,
Each man’s grief is my own.
We need one another,
So I will defend,
Each man as my brother,
Each man as my friend.
I saw the people gather,
I heard the music start,
The song that they were singing,
Is ringing in my heart.
No man is an island,
Way out in the blue,
We all look to the One above,
For our strength to renew.
When I help my brother,
Then I know that I,
Plant the seed of friendship,
That will never die.
©
No man is an island. He created us to live in community with one another, to encourage one another and to spur one another on towards love and good deeds. It is in our independent spirits that we become isolated and begin to drift. Then when the storms come, no one is there to help us.
As we become more of a technological/electronic age, suddenly our neighbor can potentially become someone who lives hundreds or thousands of miles away. We are busy in our own little worlds and suddenly we don’t know our neighbor or the people in our community.
Maybe it’s time to consider a prayer walk and commit to pray for your community, to bless them. Numbers 6:22-27 gives us an idea of the framework for blessing those around us in our community.
Numbers 6:22-27 (Amplified Bible)
“22And the Lord said to Moses,
23Say to Aaron and his sons, This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them,
24The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
27And they shall put My name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
Praying for our Communities: B.L.E.S.S.
As you prayer walk your neighborhood, to bless them, consider this helpful little acronym to guide your prayers for your community. I think you will see similarities between the Numbers passage above and the B.L.E.S.S. acronym.
- Bodies: Pray for health, strength and healing.
- Learning: Pray for children in school.
- Employment: Pray for provision for all financial and material needs.
- Seeking: Pray for hearts that seek after God.
- Social: Pray for strong family and community relationships.
Be an activist and bless those around you, for no man is an island, no man stands alone.
Image protected by copyright ©Andy Simmons 1995-2004.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our daily lives. Thanks for this wonderful reminder to pray for our communities.
Blessings,
Krista
Amen, Marsha. We cannot stand alone, that is for sure. When I am in distress, I call my friends to pray of directions in my life. Thank you for sharing the acronym for “bless”.
Thanks for the great reminder sis.
You’re right we’ve more connected technology wise but often disconnected from others in the natural. I love the acronym you’ve shared.
Hi Marsha,
I really like the BLESS acronym, that is a great way to remember specific prayers for our community. Great post. Have a lovely weekend,
Bethany
Great reminder.
Love you sis.