A few weeks ago my family and I were at The Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. We had a great time seeing all the animals and riding all the amazing rides! However, there was one animal that taught me a great lesson…The Pink Flamingo.

The Pink Flamingo is a beautiful creature that no doubt is one of the most colorful animals in it’s species. When this bird is sleeping and standing still it is incredible to look at its beauty. However, there was something I observed that the Pink Flamingo does, that we as humans do, and it doesn’t work out so well for us. You see, when the Pink Flamingo sleeps it stands on one leg as shown on the picture below…

According to Animal Planet it’s a puzzle to science why, exactly, flamingos stand on one leg so regularly. But there are lots of theories on the subject. It’s an impressive ability, considering flamingos’­ legs are longer than their bodies, and most of their weight is oriented horizontally. Humans are oriented vertically, with almost all of their weight in line with the center of gravity. It really should be easier for humans to stand on one leg than for flamingos. But most of us have trouble standing one leg for 10 seconds, let alone four hours like flamingos do.

This works out well for the Flamingo’s, but not so well for humans. The reality is we can’t stand alone in life. We can’t live life to the fullest on our own, we need others to help us. When we stand alone we are way more vulnerable to get knocked over much easier. We weren’t created to be loners, we were created to be in community! When we try to stand on our own strength we will get tired and eventually either give up or fall over in defeat. The Lone Ranger was a great western hero, but we are not called to be Lone Rangers. As a matter of fact The Lone Ranger wasn’t very alone anyway, he had his side-kick Tonto. Well maybe expect for the time when The Lone Ranger and Tonto were surrounded by a group of Indians in eminent defeat. The Lone Ranger looked at Tonto and said,

” Tonto, we must fight hard or die!”

Tonto looked at the Pale Ranger and replied, “What you mean, we, white man?”

The Lone Ranger is a myth, nothing can be done great in life without the help of others. God created us to be better together. When we break that law and take matter into our lonesome self we will always lose. Almost everything is better together think about it…

• Learning & Teaching
• Peanut Butter & Jelly
• Mac & Cheese
• Dora & Diego
• Boats & Water
• Salt & Pepper
• Soap & Water

God created us for COMMUNITY for RELATIONSHIP think about Adam & Eve…

Genesis 2:18 

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

 We were designed to be TOGETHER. Even though man was in the Garden with God – He still saw a need for relationships…Adam & Eve. This is a theme all throughout scripture. Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs read about it in Mark 7. Check these verses out…

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

 Jesus Prayed…

John 17:11 

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 

John 17:20-21

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

COMMUNITY fosters UNITY

When we are in community there is a unity of vision and heart. We can be there for each other with like minded goals and values. We have to make sure we are in community with the right people. Make sure that you surround yourself with those that can lift you and not sift you! When unity is present there is power! Great things happen when people come together for a great cause.

Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

COMMUNITY gives IMMUNITY

Being in community with the right people protects us and surrounds us with a safety net. It allows others to look out for us and be there for us and us be there for them. Remember the song, Lean on me, when your not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on.” That should be the motto of every Christ follower! When we are all singing that by living it out loud we will be there for each other. Community gives us immunity against the storms and seasons of life that come against us. In Acts 2 we see how the early church was there for each other, taking care of ALL the needs of everyone around them. They were in true community!

COMMUNITY creates OPPORTUNITY 

When community is happening there are more doors that open up for great things to happen. You cannot achieve your dreams alone, it takes support from those around you. In Deuteronomy it tells us that one can put a thousand to flight, but 2 can put ten thousand to flight. There is opportunity in community coming together for a great cause. The word SYNERGY comes from the Greek word Synergos which means…The Whole is greater than the sum of its parts. There is spiritual synergy when people join together!

So DO NOT Be a Pink Flamingo and live on an island by yourself!

Who do you need to surround yourself with in order to grow into greater things?

I love what Albert Einstein said about the debt he owed others for his work,

“Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is build upon the labors of my fellow man, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.”