This video struck me to the heart. Please click on link to see video: Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan

In this journey to eat less, pray more and love abundantly I have become more aware of relationships.  I’ve been exploring and experiencing connections to people and God in new and sometimes painful ways.

Anne Sullivan connects to Helen in a way that is intimate.  She places a hand on her teacher’s face, thus causing Anne’s identity, for the moment, to be inextricably linked with her student.  Anne seems completely at ease with this and an even deeper connection still.  Helen relies on Anne to connect to the broader world through language.  Helen is Anne’s lifeline.

Is this not a symbol for the connections we all need in life?  Between friends, lovers, parents, siblings do we not all long for at least one meaningful connection in life?  Robert Putnam, in his groundbreaking work, “Bowling Alone”, places relationships as the most powerful force to move someone from one stage of sustainability to another.

Is this not what God calls us to do? Luke 10:26-28 in the amplified puts it this way.

^“26 Jesus said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it?

²⁷ And he replied, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.

²⁸ And Jesus said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live [enjoy active, blessed, endless life in the kingdom of God].”

From the Message Bible it puts verse 27 this way, “²⁷ He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”

Anne Sullivan loved Helen Keller with all her passion, prayer, muscle and intelligence.  How do I know?  The connection shows us, as demonstrated in the video.

As I stumble, worn and weary, from one crisis to baseball game to laundry pile to work, I need that same connection.  I need to connect with God in that same way.  I need to love Him with all my passion more than I merely want to survive the moment.  I must connect with Him so that He is my lifeline-so I can communicate with my challenging world the language of love, grace and strength.

We are managing to stumble our way to church this morning.  I’ll be tired, because I always am these days.  However, at some point, in some way, I will reach my hand.  I will place it on the face of the One I love and I will connect.

Will you?  If you do, please share.