Signposts: Daily Devotions

Written by Renée Miller

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
—1 Corinthians 12:27

There are times when we feel alone—outside the maelstrom and energy of life. We may feel as if we are a solitary ship on a restless sea. Sometimes life has been so complicated and overwhelming that we have freely chosen to step away from the cacophony into the solitude that bathes us in silence. 

Or perhaps others have pushed us away from the beat of life, and we have found ourselves climbing into the boat and setting sail alone against our will. Then it feels as if the silence of solitude is not a languorous bath, but an unwelcome push into the deep end.

While solitude is sometimes the sea we sail in, heaven never intends for us to sail forever alone. We are part of heaven's great family, and even our smallest breath, our tiniest step, our least exciting action has an effect on the great creation of God. 

We are part of Christ's body—the body that effects God's action on earth. We are part of the goodness that is unleashed on earth. We are part of the hopefulness that brings light to the dark places. We are part of the creativity that brings new things into being. We are part of the love that gives life to what is dry and crackled.

The Holy One has gathered us in to the family of heaven and we
have a place there for all eternity. We may still need solitude from time to time. We may still be pushed away by others. But, even in solitude, we are tethered to heaven, and our lives matter.

Our boat is never so alone on the sea that land slips from our sight.

Gracious God, open my soul to the wonder of belonging.