interconnectedness.

"Why is it that people get married?
Because we need a witness to our lives.
There’s a billion people on the planet.
What does any one life really mean?
But in a marriage, you’re promising to care about everything…
The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things,
All of it… all the time, every day.
You’re saying “Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it.
Your life will not go unwitnessed - because I will be your witness.”
Wife in the movie, "Shall We Dance?" 2004

i love this explanation of marriage and just being connected to others in general. i've been reading a book lately, and it talks a lot about interdependence with people and how this has become a lost art among our culture. we emphasize independence and self-sufficiency over leaning upon others. i've been thinking through this a bit and realized that i'm not even really sure what it looks like to be interdependent. but i have come to appreciate a few deep relationships over several shallow ones, and allowing myself to be vulnerable in an attempt at being known. it seems that we all long for someone to take notice of our lives and walk along beside us. but this community must be fought for. it doesn't come easy with the voices of culture resounding in our ears telling us to look out for number one and don't trust anyone other than yourself. perhaps one day i will have a better grasp on this. for now, building authentic community will be the focus of some attention for me.