Gather around

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.  But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. Acts 14:19-20 (NASB)

There's a lot of things to beat us down on any given day. Criticisms from without, worries from within. Some days the failures seem to overwhelm any victories, and the frailties of body and soul seem to sabotage any of our best intentions. We find that our fallen nature has ambushed us once again and we lie wounded in a pool of disappointment.

It is at those times when we can keenly understand the reason God made us to live in community. We need others who can pick us up, brush us off, and set us back on the path.  "It is not good for man to live alone," declared the Creator-God. "Two are better than one," explained the wise teacher in Ecclesiastes.

In the Book of Acts we see Paul, beaten to the point of death. "But while the disciples stood around him, he got up ..." and continued on his mission. I need those disciples to stand beside me when my heart is bruised, my thinking jumbled, my body weary.  I need them to gather around to pray, to speak truth, to love, to help.

And as a disciple myself,  I need to be available to others when they need the same.