“We’re in this together”, and “together we are strong” are phrases we’ve seen and used over the last few months and probably the next few months to come. What does it mean to be “together”? It’s actually both an adverb and an adjective. As an adverb it to be in proximity or adjacent to another person – in conjunction or cooperation. As an adjective it refers to being self-confident, balanced, sensible and practical; synonyms are: composed, calm, collected, organized. When you look on the surface of what society is experiencing right now it appears anything but being “together”!
Of course, we are all extremely aware of the importance of “social distancing” these days. My choir director, Pastor Ken Anderson, director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir, told us “We’re not really social distancing, but rather just physically distancing.” And yet now with the latest social developments, division on many levels seems the operative experience – especially if one tracks the media.
I believe this division, however, is not the norm for most of us. Yes, there are those “bad apples” surfacing and bringing a deeper awareness of wounds that must be attended to and healed. However, I believe most of us resonate with the previously mentioned slogans, “We are in this together” and “Together we are strong.” People reaching out to others is happening throughout society.
Let’s come together and unite with all whom we share this earthly experience. Let’s demonstrate and bring out the referenced attributes of being sensible, practical, composed, collected and organized in our togetherness.
Say with me: “I recognize and honor we are all doing the very best we can at all times. Therefore, I let go of judgments and simply meet others at the doorway of my heart; seeing from this vantage I know ‘together we are strong.’ And so it is.”
— Rev. Gay Beauregard, Alpine Church of Spiritual Living
