Research suggests that our western culture is doing us a great injustice by our preoccupation with independence. I will be exploring this topic in great detail over the next few months but for now let me emphasize that we need connection. Our social environments play a key role in our mental health. In Lost Connections, Johann Hari, concludes “every human instinct is honed not for life on your own, but for life like this, in a tribe. Humans need tribes as much as bees need a hive.”
Connections come at a price. We have to live with each other. The closer we live together the more we annoy each other. The more we get to know someone the more we realize, they got flaws. Yes, we all know we have flaws but not as 
bad as someone else’s flaws, right? And then there are those that have the big ones … those flaws you see on the news, like killing and kidnapping and stealing and rioting. You get the picture, you get it every night on the evening news.
And then there are our personal enemies. Maybe you’re more comfortable with the term rivals. Some you admit to, and some you hide in your heart in denial even to yourself. Those people who you are competing for status with on facebook or for likes on your instagram page. Some of those people you may have even blocked from your social media feed because you just don’t click. Sometimes you don’t block them, you feel compelled to set them straight. Eventually, though, especially in this climate of political assault, where we no longer discuss issues but sling insults and put downs, if they don’t agree with you, you begin to harbor feelings of dislike, distrust, and loose connection with the reason you became friends in the first place.
“Your enemies will cower before you and you will trample down their high places,” says God in Deut 33:29
“But Father, who are my enemies?” I asked thinking of people, specific people who are influencing others in ways in which I was wondering if they were right or wrong, are they even my friend or my foe. I don’t know anymore. Just tell me who they are Lord. If you say, “Friend” I will be a friend to them and if you say enemy, “I will trample their high places.”
He replied, “Your battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, and against rulers of darkness.”
We need people. We need to understand that the deceiver is doing a great job of pulling us apart, over political debates, life choices, and beliefs we hold sacred. We get on our high horse about our values and the lines are drawn between us. Why? Because Satan is trying to rip apart our tribe. He knows that when we are divided we will lose the strengths and love we have to give each other, we will sink into despair and depression which fuels even more destruction. And those who are disconnected the most, will, in their loneliness and desperation act out in ways that will drive us even further apart.
We are not fighting flesh and blood, we are fighting the ruler of darkness who has been turning us away from each other and away from God since the dawn of man.
“I love my people,” says the Lord, “Even when they can’t find me, I will strengthen them, even when they can’t feel me there, I will know them. When they are seeking me, I will not ignore them calling out for me.” Job 23.
Father, your spirit is always with me, whether I am ascending or descending, happy or sad, alone or in companionship. Whether I am dancing for joy or walking through darkness, your spirit is in me and your light shines into the innermost places of my soul and radiates from me wherever I go. Let your light shine into the darkness, Light of the World. Amen.