I remember one fall afternoon, when I drove down my street. Almost all of my neighbors were out raking leaves at the same time. It was a beautiful scene with the autumn colors in the trees and on the ground and the sights and sounds of young and old working together in the sunshine. At the scene, the Spirit of God whispered these words to me, "It is not good for man to be alone."

At first, the verse seemed out of context since I was so used to hearing it used when people speak of marriage. But, after some thought, it occurred to me that God might be trying to reveal something that should have been obvious to me before then.

If it were not for Eve, the earth might have remained empty forever. If Adam had remained "alone," it wouldn't have been "good" because he wouldn't have been able to reproduce. No one would have ever had the chance to be in relation to each other. We wouldn't know anyone as a husband or a wife, as a mother or a father, a daughter or son, a sister or brother or even... as a friend. God created people to be relationship with Him, of course, but I think he also wanted us to be surrounded with other people.

And, then I considered how much I have benefited from the presence of other people in my own life. I have learned about Christ's love through my marriage. I have realized so much about the heart of God as father through parenthood. The list goes on. Even when people mistreat me, I have an opportunity to receive more of God's grace so I can respond like Christ would respond and to become more like God.

So, sometimes, when my life feels really "crowded," I remind myself that it is what God intended for me. People are a form of wealth that He blesses us with. Maybe Eve wasn't just created so that Adam wouldn't be alone. Maybe she was created so that through her and Adam, the whole earth would be filled with people for God to love and for us to pour our lives to. It is life to us to live for others.

"It is not good for man to be alone..."