I’ve been reading an outstanding book called Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek Murthy, MD, Surgeon General of the United States.

If there is one thing that COVID taught us, it is about human connection, or lack of. We need connection from the day we are born until the day we die. Babies need to have eye contact and human touch for healthy development. We also know that older people find a gentle touch and a familiar song or story to be soothing. We need to connect with others.
In his book, Murthy talks about the importance of stories and the role that “storytelling plays in securing human values, purpose, and identity and in bonding us emotionally.” The Bible is a perfect example of the stories of God’s people and their struggles to connect with God. How would we know about God had the people of Israel not told their story?
I have met so many interesting people in my first year at Westminster who have great stories to tell. I yearn for connection between these wise people and the teens of our church community. I welcome people of all generations to tell their faith stories and how God has been present in their lives. We need to tell each other our stories, our ancestor’s stories, and God’s story.

In Veritas this fall, we will explore belonging and what it means to be a part of the community of God. It is my hope for their church community to teach them about how they are loved and worthy in the eyes of God.

“The bottom line is that we all long to connect … Our sense of self is a communal construct …We are created for community. Without community, we struggle. It’s as if we didn’t
have oxygen to breathe.”