“You are the one who created my innermost parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I give thanks to you that I was marvelously set apart. Your works are wonderful—I know that very well. My bones weren’t hidden from you when I was being put together in a secret place, when I was being woven together in the deep parts of the earth.” Psalm 139: 13-15 (CEB)
The stand-alone Sequoia Redwood trees have a natural way that it forms relationships by nature joining them 
together. Birds build nests among their branches. The heat rays embrace the branches; gentle breezes caress them; and the friendships of the unseen, small underground universe of lively creatures encourages them. Sequoias have large tap roots that on the surface appear to stand alone, yet actually they have countless outward growing roots which interwine with their neighboring sequoias, forming soul mates, a security connection with a foundation of safety, belonging and love. And they hold each other up even in the fiercest of storms.
At some time in our lives we experience loneliness. It’s normal and necessary. It should be appreciated not feared. During seasons of loneliness, the dis-eased soul can discover the greatest of cure with time, prayer and surrender —God’s constant presence. We are never truly alone no more than the stand-alone Sequoia Redwood tree.
Prayer: O God, let us always remember to pray for one another and be alert to opportunities to lend our support to others who are suffering. As we interwine our roots, our spiritual lives, to help hold each other up, we will remain secure in the fiercest storms. We know without Your instruction, we can loose direction. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
The Rev. Henry Williams served over a decade as Lead Pastor in The United Methodist Church. In 2014 he started HDW Counseling Services, a private counselor practice, and also serves as On-Site Pastoral Care Counselor for Hope UMC in Southfield, Michigan.