DAY 25: CONNECTIONS #25WordAdventPrayers Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. — Matthew 1:17 If each person in the world felt a little more connected to the other, we would be in such a better place. Instead, rugged individualism and setting oneself apart from the body politic are overly-worshiped in American culture. I am not against people standing alone against situations and communities of injustice or to boldly step into new spaces of personal growth. Being an individual and embracing the unique ways in which we are created by God is not a bad thing. There are times when being alone is vital to our growth in body, mind, and spirit. We must remember, however, that our individual choices impact others and must not come at the cost of the life, agency, and dignity of the community and those connected to us. This journey is rarely for us and us alone, so the mor...