A Suitable Companion
October 09, 2018
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Genesis 2: 18-24
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him.” 19 So he took some soil from the ground and formed all the animals and all the birds. Then he brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and that is how they all got their names. 20 So the man named all the birds and all the animals; but not one of them was a suitable companion to help him.
21 Then the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh. 22 He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. 23 Then the man said,
“At last, here is one of my own kind—
Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh.
‘Woman’ is her name because she was taken out of man.”24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one.
It might be pushing the limits to describe the quirky novel 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' by Gail Honeyman as a rom com, but the issue of a 'suitable companion' is certainly explored in an unconventional way.
Eleanor strongly believes that she doesn't need anyone else in her life and describes herself in this way: 'I am a self-contained entity'. For many reasons she has had to be so, but the novel explores the development of her identity as two contenders emerge for the role of 'suitable companion' for Eleanor.
There is Johnnie Lomond, the elegant looking man with star like quality with whom she is enraptured from a distance, and Raymond the IT man in her office who, initially, doesn't really cut the mustard. Who will she choose? Who will choose her?
Prayer:
Lord,
You know that it isn't always good for us to be self contained entities.
You have chosen to give us identity as complete individuals while simultaneously placing us within families, communities, and your kingdom.
As we reflect on the companions in our lives, help us to be thankful, kind, generous and full of grace in our interactions with them. Without them life would be so lonely… and opportunities to live life in all its fullness so limited.
Thank you for being our ever present, ever loving companion in life.
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