This is one of my favorite quotes and it always pops up for me during the month of March, when we celebrate the Irish. St Patrick’s Day is known for many things; however, Irish culture runs steep with values of family, faith, generosity of spirit and – at least where I come from – deep friendships where people come running from far and wide when needed. Heartfelt traditions are handed down and carried through families and neighborhoods for as long as anyone can remember and there is pride, honor, and a sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself.
Life takes us through many journeys filled with ups and downs. Doing the work to heal from the downs may require rest, prayer or other forms of recovery that take place in solitude. At a certain point though, the true healing takes place in relationship with others. Strength comes back from the shelter of community in which you can be vulnerable enough to share and allow the help you need to make that final push through to the other side. There is no greater human purpose then to give and receive support among those we live.
If nothing else the past few years have taught us, living in the shelter of each other is truly how we survive.
