Ally

I’ve heard that we need allies. Ally comes from the Latin word alligare, meaning "to bind to," like nations who are allies in wartime — they will act together, and protect one another. Allies form alliances. They unite. They function on one accord. We do need unity. We do need voices of all creeds and cultures. We do need to act together. We must understand that if one group is suffering then we are suffering. If you are grieving, we are all grieving. If you hurt, I hurt. It's humanity. It’s brotherhood. Are we all not God's children? So let’s act like it. Then, we are allies.

Friendly

Proverbs 18:24 KJV A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Most people would define friendly as being kind or helpful. For the most part, I think we are able to be friendly towards our friends because it's a beneficial relationship, but what about when it's not. What about when it's inconvenient? What about when we are offended or when we disagree? What about when we're tired or had a bad day? Are we still friendly? Are we still kind? Are we still helpful? Let's try to be like the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Let's try to be more like God. Let's try to be friendly.

Allegiance

We live in a country where allegiances are undefined and unclear. We have presidential ties to Russia. We are uncertain of our future and that is disconcerting. We have allegiances to people, places, and things that are of no benefit to us. What are you committed to? Where do your allegiances lie? Are your allegiances beneficial? 

Xenagogue

There was an exhibit called "Dialogue in the Dark." Blind guides lead visitors in small groups through different settings in absolute darkness. Some of the settings included a busy street, a restaurant, a grocery store and a park. The purpose was to raise awareness about what it means to navigate daily life being vision impaired. We had to rely on our guides and our other senses to explore each exhibit. Most of us navigate life in the darkness without a xenagogue. We don't have a plan, a road map, or a guide. We need help. We need guidance. We need a mentor. We need someone to help us navigate. We need someone to show us the way when we find ourselves lost, stuck, or just searching for answers. We need someone who has traveled the road we desire to travel. We need a xenagogue.