Thoughts by Robbie Goldman
Dehydration, lack of food, and lack of restful sleep are very real and present dangers faced by many of our friends, almost daily. The volume of time consumed each day in the acquisition of the essentials for life can be overwhelming. We often notice several of these life sustaining necessities being sacrificed to do what seems to be just hanging out doing nothing. Passers-by often interpret the scene as lazy young people who should just get a job, or just do anything but sit in the park. Hours pass, meal times come and go, with no water in sight. All this while literally sitting in place,having to look over their shoulders for an authority who will tell them to get up and move along. It seems strange, almost as if they have resolved to simply give up or give in.
Sitting among these groups countless times has slowly revealed what seems to be happening. It has become evident that, in these gatherings, our friends have satisfied an equally essential need. Karin Hall Ph.D describes what is being found as “a sense of belonging.”
“A sense of belonging is a human need, just like the need for food and shelter. Feeling that you belong is most important in seeing value in life and in coping with intensely painful emotions. Some find belonging in a church, some with friends, some with family, and some on Twitter or other social media. Some see themselves as connected only to one or two people. Others believe and feel a connection to all people the world over, to humanity.”
It has become more and more apparent that the need to belong is often at a hyper state for our friends, to the point that it becomes the need satisfied before water or food. Providing a real sense of belonging for our friends is a life giving opportunity for all involved and has become one of Dry Bones’ core principles. In this, we provide space for true authentic relationship, a place to laugh, a place to share thoughts and dreams, a place to know you belong.
We freely extend beyond our familiar boundaries to form relationships that reveal the God-given unsurpassable worth of all involved. We hope to create intersections where people from different walks of life, who would not normally meet, cross paths; here, everyone belongs.
