Co-Labor
Live in authentic community
There is something alluring about independence…the whole notion of not needing anyone, like John Wayne riding off into the sunset after taking down all the bad guys in an entire town. I think a lot of people are drawn to this idea, and many people are afraid to ask for help when they have real need because this philosophy has infiltrated our thinking. Unfortunately, independence is an illusion and in many cases it is a lie that keeps us from living fulfilled.
The life of connection, joy, and meaning, as our best selves, must be driven from the power of community. We cannot thrive insolation, but only in community where there is vulnerability to ask for help, insight, and feedback….the type of community where we can be real and confess the ways we are failing….the type of community where we are known and understood for our true selves, with all of our beauty and all our shortcomings.
One of the most powerful horses in the world is the Belgian Draft Horse. In competitions, a single draft horse can pull 8,000 pounds. Here's the cool part. If you harness two of these random horses together you would probably guess they can pull 16,000 pounds….but here's the thing - they can pull 20,000 to 24,000 pounds together. Now, if you raise and train these horse together they can pull 30,000 to 32,000 pounds because they learn to work and think as one. Look at the math! Two united horses have the capacity to pull 4 times more than one horse.
These horses are not siloed but working together. I think we humans are a lot like Belgium Draft horses.
As the old proverb says:
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
While it goes against the cool guys we see in movies, I believe the pathway to a life of growth and fulfillment is only found as we pass through the gates of vulnerability, embrace community, and Co-Labor.