The Rev. Brian Bill tells about a friend of his named Ray who is originally from the South, but is now living in Chicago. Being a southerner, Ray says that one of the most challenging things about living in the Windy City is that it’s difficult to find a restaurant that serves grits. Rev. Bill asked Ray once what a “grit” is? Ray informed Rev. Bill that there’s no such thing as a “grit.” They don’t come by themselves. ­They come in a community of other grits. You can’t just order one grit.

Rev. Bill says, “You know, we’re a lot like grits.­ Some of us are ‘grittier’ than others,” he continues. “We’re not here on our own.­ We’ve been created to be in community with others.” (1)

He’s right particularly as followers of Jesus. I could go as far as to say that there is no such thing as a soli…