Standing Together in Unjust TimesНамуна

Discover Power in Proximity

Recognizing that our lives are interconnected is the first step in seeking to understand just how much we need each other, and our call to stand together. Community is necessary for us personally, but it is also a prerequisite for our considerations about how we might respond to—and try to solve—the issues and the injustices that we witness in the world. I believe that this was the apostle Paul’s main message when he wrote to the church in Corinth: “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26 NRSV).

By understanding our need for one another and decreasing our levels of isolation, we can begin to enter into a spirit of community wholeheartedly, becoming proximate to our brothers and sisters who are in need: our neighbors. Jesus connected with people whom he was proximate to, so why would it be any different for us? 

Jesus modeled proximity when he chose to be among humanity (Hebrews 4:15-16). Jesus’ proximity is what gave us life and affirmed our dignity, providing healing and connection to God.

With the mindset of proximity, we can serve not just in the traditional sense of volunteering but also in the sense of inviting people into a community and offering forms of real companionship. We can reach out to those who are routinely forgotten. Regardless of our economic standing, none of us are fundamentally any different from one another. Therefore, our efforts to help impoverished individuals do not necessarily need to look any different from the efforts we adopt to support loved ones.

The value of making connections outside of our normal social circles is incalculable because of the way in which it opens our minds and shows us that we’re all humans who experience the same emotions. Relationships are key to our understanding of the very common desire that we all have: to feel safe, loved, and valued. When we get outside of ourselves and make connections that lead to the opening of hearts and minds, we maximize our impact. 

What does it mean to you to become “proximate” to others?

What steps can you take to become proximate—not just to people who look like you but to people you see regularly but don’t speak with? How can you become proximate to people you might have to go out of your way to encounter?

How do you plan on forming new relationships with those who are outside of your typical circle of friends?