For the past few years I have subscribed to an online program called Advent Word. Each day of Advent, a special word and a brief reflection is delivered to my inbox. A few days ago, the word was “strength” and, in the reflection, Kathy Wilder spoke of the strength of a circle: “In a circle everything changes. Imagine standing shoulder to shoulder with an equal view and position. Rugged individualism fades away, accepted power norms break, human connection expands, and kinship is born. This is our greatest strength. Our kinship knits us together with the unconditional , abundant love of God.” This is not the strength of being physically strong, dominant, and forceful. This is the strength of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. This is the strength of clasping hands, literally and figuratively, to hold each other up. In a circle there is always room to add one more. We are always in a circle. Even when we seem to be alone, we hold hands with God and the circle is complete.

written by Barb Kilbourn
Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay