Thursday, February 28, 2019

Relying on Others


I’m deep-cleaning my apartment today. I’ve already polished windows and scrubbed the depths of my fridge. Now I’m on to dusting.

I spray Pledge onto the top of my bookcase, then I wipe a cloth across it. Dull, muted wood becomes bright and rich.

I work my way across the bookcase until I come to a pair of bookends: heavy, cast iron monkeys, each crossed-legged and holding a stack of books. My grandma bought them for me. She knows I like unusual things, and these twin monkeys are about as unusual as things come.

Pressed between the monkeys’ backs is a row of novels. I want to dust under the bookends, so I lift a monkey off the bookcase, trying not to disturb the books. As I pull the bookend away, the books remain standing.

Then, in an instant, weight shifts. The entire row of books topples. Paperbacks slide on slick wood and careen to the floor.  

So close. I should have known that the books wouldn’t stand with only one monkey supporting them.

I remove the remaining books and the second monkey from the bookcase and dust where they stood. As I clean, I think of something a friend recently told me.

“We can’t do life alone. We need our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us when we struggle. We need them to help us carry our burdens.”

I’m blessed to have family and friends who reach into my life and support me spiritually.

But, sometimes, I don’t let them. Sometimes, I don’t want to share my shortcomings with others. Sometimes, I want to rely on my own strength.

And, for a little while, I can handle things. But they inevitably fall apart.

I need to start being intentional about relying on others. I need to share my struggles with the brothers and sisters God has given me. I need to trust them to have my back.

I replace the two monkeys and slide the books between them. The row of books is steady now. Balanced and supported.

“Lord,” I pray. “I’m so glad I don’t have to do life alone. Help me to be humble enough to rely on others.”

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