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“Building Belonging” is the theme for September. We begin this month with a discussion on loneliness and its impact on us, and how we move forward to belonging.
“To focus on such things is to wonder if, maybe without us fully noticing it, our whole society has become a land of lonely belonging, where no one is allowed to live without burying at least one part of themselves. The words of Carl Jung capture this well. He wrote, “Loneliness does not come from having no people around, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself.”
So where does this leave us? Well, perhaps it’s an invitation to understand that the work of belonging begins with developing an intimate relationship with its opposite: loneliness. And opening ourselves to the idea that loneliness may not always be just a burden, emptiness, or a source of depletion, even though it can feel that way. Perhaps sometimes loneliness is also a source of wisdom, arising from a caretaking part of us that tries to tell us, “This is not the way to live!”
So, friends, this month let’s listen to our loneliness more closely. Because it appears to be the key to the unique kind of belonging that each of us needs. ” Rather than a traditional sermon, we will participate in exercises that guide us toward a sense of belonging. This comes from Soul Matters and has been adapted for use. |
