No Man Is An Island (A Tribute to My Parents)

Tenth Avenue North

          If you've never listened to the band Tenth Avenue North, you're missing out. They're a contemporary Christian band, and I absolutely love their music. They recently released an album titled "Cathedrals," and the first track on the album is "No Man Is An Island." The idea behind the song is a call to a revival of Christian community. I see it in my own life and in the Christian community at large. The church is supposed to be our family, our place of refuge and our support in this life. We're supposed to draw each other closer to the Lord and help each other endure this life. In the months before I left for college, I had close to no Christian friends. I made no effort to reach out and make real connections with any of my church family; I was a lone wolf. And I suffered greatly for it. When I got to Liberty, things changed. I found friends, I'm anxious to get settled into a church and start making connections, and I learned a lot about relying on Christians of all ages and dispositions. 
          One particular area that I had still yet to relinquish control of was my academics. I refused to reach out for help even though I was literally drowning in work for my honors Philosophy class. I was putting everything off because I just couldn't do it. So over Thanksgiving break, I had a total of 14 pages to begin and finish. And while that may not seem like much to some, it was very difficult reading and even more difficult analyzing to do, not to mention that writing for school is not my strong suit. It seemed insurmountable.

Tenth Avenue North's
most recent album, Cathedrals

          I began the work on Wednesday morning, and I got no more than three words written before I burst into tears. I was sobbing, feeling so utterly defeated by schoolwork, which I thought was my pride and joy, the one thing I could excel at. I may have written one paragraph in the span of two hours, sobbing and shaking the entire time. Eventually my parents heard my cries from the living room and came in to see what was wrong. I didn't want to tell them that they're little prodigy was being taken down by one class, but I had to empty myself of my pride and admit that I couldn't do it on my own.
          I'm not one to brag on myself, but I will brag on my God, because He deserves it. My God has provided through every moment of my life. This situation was no different. Once I humbled myself and reached out to allow my parents to step in and help me, God moved, and God moved powerfully. This Thanksgiving season, I am thankful for my father's compassion and his steady shoulder that holds my head and dries my tears. I am thankful for his strong arms that hold me tight, and I am thankful for his faith in me, even when my faith in myself falters. I am thankful for my mother's dedication to helping her children no matter what the cost. I am thankful that she will drop anything, that she will leave the dishes dirty and the laundry unwashed, to wipe my tears and walk hand in hand with me through my toughest battles. I am thankful for the intelligence that the Lord has blessed her with, and I am thankful for her willingness to exercise that intelligence to help me understand this subject material that I didn't think I would ever understand. 

The greatest parents in the world,
featuring my dad's broken wrist.

          My mom sat in my room with me for hours upon hours on Wednesday afternoon, reading article after article after article and taking notes and helping me summarize what was being said so that I could grasp the concepts I needed to grasp. Even with my mother's help, the writing was grueling. I would venture downstairs to get yet another Diet Mountain Dew, and my dad would stop me, look me in the eyes with tears in his own, and tell me how proud he was of me for pushing through. My heart goes out to those who don't have the love and support that I have in my parents. 
          I think I speak on behalf of my parents, and my whole family for that matter, when I extend an offer to every one of you: we will treat you as our family, because you are. You need only to reach out your hand. The sense of community in the Church today is dying, and it's dying quickly. Let revival start with us. Let revival start with me. No man is an island. You are not alone, from a brief conversation to the nights when your world is falling down, you have a sister in me. You have a family in the Church. Don't forget that, and don't let it go to waste. You can't do life alone, no matter how hard you try. Thank you Mom, and thank you Dad, for showing me what it means to have a family. Here's to 25 years of marriage, 18 years of family, and 16 years of an annoying little brother whom I love so dearly.  

Here is the video for their song, "No Man Is An Island." Listen and be encouraged.