When we come together, what shapes the space around, defines the ground between us? —Harryette Mullen
Welcome to our table!
If I asked, “What draws us together in this fractured world?”
Do you feel it?
The space between us…the division and the disconnection between “us” and “them?”
Can you also feel something else?
The ground beneath you…the common ground of humanity “we” walk upon.
Yes, the path is uneven with uncertainty.
There are dangerous dips that run deep…with unspoken fear. These dark tidepools invite us to pause and speak our fears before washing them away through surrender.
Not the “I give up,” or the wave-the-white-flag surrender.
The surrender of “letting go” and “giving over.”
The surrender that begins with questions.
The surrender that fills the space between us and draws us together with curiosity instead of judgment.
On our path, there are also places that rise above the expected terrain.
Our feet sense the soil lifting and expanding; we hear the ground breaking apart, creating space for old ideas to be released, and new ideas to soak in.
The ground heaves with hope.
Not the “Everything happens for a reason” or “Just stay positive” kinds of misguided hope.
The hope that comes from asking questions like, “What is this moment here to teach me?” and “How can I fill the space between us?”
Nothing New Here
In times of disconnection and division, it can feel as though we’re wandering through a maze of conflicting beliefs, fractured relationships, and an undercurrent of fear that touches everyone.
Yet, as Harryette Mullen’s poem What Draws Us Together suggests, there is a compelling beauty in our shared humanity—a potential for unity, even in multiplicity.
When we get curious and ask ourselves, “What draws us together?” we will find the surrender and hope to offer a world that often feels out of alignment.
Acknowledging Our Fractures
The reality is, we are a fractured people—divided by ideologies, experiences, and perceptions.
However, these fractures are not the enemy; they are the storylines that make us who we are.
It’s tempting to believe unity demands sameness, but genuine connection doesn’t erase differences.
Instead, it honors them.
Acknowledging our fractures means embracing the discomfort of not always understanding or agreeing with others.
When we listen deeply, with curiosity rather than judgment, we begin to trace the lines of each other’s stories, seeing how they shape and define us.
The fear of being misunderstood often keeps us silent, but it’s this silence that widens the gaps between us.
I’ve done this one too many times—remained silent out of fear of not saying or writing the “right” words…of being misunderstood—how about you?
Speaking our truths, even imperfectly, invites others to do the same, creating a space where differences don’t divide—they deepen connection.
The Undercurrent of Fear: A Shared Vulnerability
Beneath our outward divisions lies a common thread: fear.
Fear of rejection, of being unseen, of losing what we hold dear.
Fear often isolates us.
It leads us to believe we are alone in our fear.
We create false profiles of ourselves to mask our fear.
Then we fill in the unknowns of others with false perceptions—our fear of misinterpretation or misunderstanding can lead us to misinterpret others.
However, when we acknowledge our shared vulnerability, we soften.
The person behind the profile is revealed, and we witness the perfectly imperfect human behind the perceived otherness.
Our fear may not be expressed the same, but it can connect us if we recognize it as a universal experience—our common ground.
Fear is a powerful force, but so is hope.
It’s hope that draws us together, allowing us to imagine what’s possible when we move beyond fear.
Together, we can create a space where courage grows—not by ignoring fear but by holding it tenderly, as a reminder of what we all long for: safety, love, and belonging.
Creating Wholeness Through Connection
We often speak of becoming whole as individuals…embodying and embracing our “whole self” by figuring out how to align our unique ideas and interests with our core values and lifestyle.
But what does wholeness look like—not as individuals, but as a collective?
Connection doesn’t mean losing ourselves; it means discovering how our unique edges fit together to create something greater than any of us could build alone.
In a disconnected world, finding this kind of wholeness begins with small, intentional acts.
It’s the neighbor who checks in during a storm,
the friend who listens with no need to fix,
the stranger who smiles when you need it most.
It’s the host who offers space for individual voices at the holiday gathering and also draws the guests together to a common table.
A tiny shift.
Just enough to create a whole.
Whether that new collective is for a moment, a meal, or for the months ahead.
Wholeness also requires us to shift our focus.
Who among us is actively searching for and sharing the places where we are united?
When we look for what divides us, we’ll find it.
But when we search for common ground, we uncover the threads that bind us together—our shared humanity, dreams, and the hope that overcomes fear.
Moving Forward Together
As we navigate these challenging times, the question isn’t whether we can erase our differences, but how we can hold space for them while building connection.
Acknowledging our fractures, embracing shared vulnerability, and contributing to collective wholeness are all steps toward a more united world.
Allowing the lines of our stories to intertwine will help form our collective picture of hope.
Together, we can shift the narrative from one of division to one of connection, from fear to trust, and from isolation to belonging.
Try this…
Pause for a moment today and reflect:
- What draws you to others?
- Where is one place of connection you might find in your own relationships, your community, or even with a stranger?
- How would a shared smile, a kind word, or a listening ear create a connection where previously there’s only been division?
Making time to reflect is an important first step.
This simple act can help smooth the edges and fill in the gaps, composing the wholeness we’re all searching for every day.
Instead of trying to erase our differences, let’s embrace them.
Your willingness to take these small steps as an individual is the powerful signal of hope that draws us together…
Can you feel it, dear friend?
