Society teaches self-sufficiency. It is all about taking care of things on your own. Self-sufficiency shows strength and competence. It launches success. The world would have you believe that self-sufficiency trumps everything else.

Our society has lost its sense of community. We no longer look to one another in times of need. Showing need reveals vulnerability and that could lead to downfall. Reaching out a hand to the government is better than revealing a weakness to the people around you.

There was a time when people were more concerned about the kind of neighbors around the property than the depth of the water when it came to choosing a new home. Location was centered around community and not the view.

A strong community meant that kids would be watched out for, troubles would be dealt with as a group and not individually, outsiders would be noticed and you would know that you were never truly alone.

Today in church we were called to community once again. It required us to reach out and connect with each person in the congregation by holding hands during prayer. There were more than a few seats empty making the action awkward. I had to turn and twist and stretch out as far as I could to make the connections. It was not comfortable but it was comforting.

It was one more reminder to help me understand that making a connection may require some stretching on my part.

Over the last several days I have been competing in an online competition for a chance to write a good news blog. The first round is all about votes and I can only vote for myself once a day until the contest ends. This contest has forced me to reach out to every connection that I have ever made and ask for help. I can not do it alone. Self sufficiency is worthless in this endeavor.

I have learned that asking for help does not leave me inundated with requests from others for reciprocal help. Most people are not expecting tit for tat. My ego may have suffered a blow but not because others have called me weak, pathetic or pitiful but because I have had to accept the idea that I am not capable of doing it all on my own. The only thing that I have received from all of my requests is a deeper connection with many of those to whom I have reached out my hand. I have found comfort in these connections.

Community is about being willing to reach out beyond my comfort and ask for the hands of those around me. It is about the connections. Community can pick me up when I fall, steady me when I stumble and help stretch me beyond when I am reaching for success. It is good to do all that you can do by then you have to be willing to ask for help from others when all that you can do is not enough.

Kathryn Lang is a freelance writer and inspirational speaker. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions to her at kathrynlang@kathrynlang.com. You can read more of her inspirational writing at www.proverbs31life.com and you can vote for her in the “Good Mood” blog competition through that same site. Kathryn Lang is available to speak to your group or organization and can be contacted through her website at www.kathrynlang.com.