Things Best Shared

Photo by Kayla Jackson / The Republic

And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:7

My sister and I went for a walk on the morning of the 2024 solar eclipse. Lost in the excitement of being reunited, we had forgotten all about the big event. We were in our own little world sharing stories and laughter as we walked along the sidewalk. Suddenly a voice pierced through our conversation calling, “Hey! Have you seen the solar eclipse?!” Brought back to earth, we looked over our shoulders to see a woman in her driveway beaming from ear to ear. She waved us over crying, “Come here, and you can use the eclipse glasses a friend shared with me!”

We each took a turn with the glasses to witness this amazing event. We exclaimed how special this moment felt knowing that millions of folks were seeing the same sight. The very moment I saw the eclipse, it hit me. Some things are best shared. A solar eclipse is something special that brings people together in our common humanity to marvel at the cosmos. It means more when we can share our amazement, excitement, and joy at something so marvelous to celebrate in the midst of so much suffering.

Good news and bad news mean more when shared in community. The joy of a new birth, the sorrow at a death, the excitement of a graduation, or the fear in a new diagnosis are meant to be shared because they unite us in our humanity. We can celebrate, comfort, and support each other. When we share in the sufferings and in the joys, it gives us hope knowing we are not alone. Community is vital to our spiritual and mental health providing us with connection and a reminder that we are in this together. Faith is something best shared, and I am honored to share in all the beautiful ways we live out our faith through our community at Desert Cross.

All are welcome! Pastor Andrea