Strength in Unity

Regardless of whether one considers themselves to be a person of faith or not, the Bible is full of practical wisdom for countless situations we may encounter. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reads, "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Research has shown that married people, on average, live considerably longer than single people and that having children adds even more years to someone's lifespan. Researchers have identified various reasons for these findings, including that married people tend to avoid risky behaviors and frequently help monitor each other's health, not to mention the emotional and psychological benefits of feeling part of a loving and supportive relationship or family. In other words, loneliness can and often does kill. At the very least, it can shorten our lifespan.

With that in mind, how can we help those who feel lonely or isolated? How can we serve those who have no one to rely on for companionship? Those who have nobody to help them in time of need? Most of us know someone who is lonely and who needs a friend. In our senior living communities, the need for relationship is especially important. We may be tempted to tell ourselves that it's "not our job" to be intentional about interacting with strangers and visitors to our communities, but it really is.

Many of our residents feel like they have no one they can regularly rely on. Additionally, you may have fellow associates working alongside you who are struggling with loneliness and who would welcome a friendly gesture or act of kindness from a co-worker. The Golden Rule is certainly applicable here: every day, we should offer kindness to those around us and take the time to speak to them and get to know them, just as we'd like them to do with us.

Conversely, what if we are the ones who need relationship, a helping hand, or an attentive ear? It's important for us to not isolate ourselves and not allow our pride to prevent us from showing our vulnerability or asking for help when we need it. And we can't simply tell ourselves we're introverts or just naturally "shy." Sometimes, we must get out of our comfort zone to improve our quality of life.

What about the "third strand" of the cord mentioned in the Ecclesiastes quotation above? What might this look like, practically speaking? When two people have different or even opposing opinions, a third person may offer a valuable and helpful perspective, perhaps even mediating or helping to resolve a situation. Furthermore, your third-strand relationship allows you even more opportunities to help, advise, listen, and encourage.

Remember: "A cord of three strands is not easily broken." There is strength in unity!