You’re not alone in feeling like you bear the weight alone. I mean, with all you’re doing, you’re basically a church-on-wheels here. And I say that both as a compliment and as a reflection of our situation as a society–we need each other, we need neighbors, community, and we need help sometimes. And many people are feeling the “it’s too much to do alone” conclusion. I don’t think we were meant to be this way. I’ve been reading Seth Kaplan’s “Fragile Neighborhoods” recently and I feel like my eyes are open to the deep loss in social capital or “collective efficacy” that previous generations had. We’re in a period of innovating on new social structures. It’s tough. Keep going. Play the long game, make friends and neighbors, and don’t forget you’re just human too. We need each other.
Have you ever heard the story of the snake?
One evening, a man walks along a dimly lit path. He suddenly halts, his heart pounding with fear. Before him, on the ground, lies what appears to be a venomous snake. He freezes, paralyzed with dread. Only when a friend comes by with a lantern does the true nature of the object come to light: it is merely a piece of rope.
I learned this story from Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist author. He would indicate with stories like this that our perceptions shape our reality. Often, we react out of fear and misunderstanding, seeing snakes where there are none. He said that mindfulness and deeper understanding can act like the lantern, illuminating the true nature of our experiences.