Outcasts: Our Human Need For Belonging

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "outcast" as "one that is cast out or refused acceptance (as by society)." When I was young, my family uprooted from the Toledo area and settled in Hancock County. I was the new kid on the block at a tiny county school where our graduating class of less than ninety was considered the largest class in school history. In typical fashion, I was looked upon by most of my classmates as an outsider because I was new to the area. I didn't grow up with the core group of children that were raised together, therefore I didn't have the close relationships that some had already established over the last several years. As a result, I didn't really "fit in" with any social group and only had a few close friends.
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As a teenager, I remember having the desire to fit in. I remember wanting to be accepted by my peers. Human beings, as a whole, are naturally drawn to community; to a feeling of belonging to a group. God designed us to be interdependent, not independent. He created fellowship and relationship so that we can all be given joy and a feeling of fulfillment in our lives. Scripture encourages us to "gather together" with one another (Matthew 18:20). His word states that we are stronger together (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). The book of Acts documents the interactions of Christ's followers and describes how they met together with purpose (Acts 2).

This same desire to be a part of something purposeful or meaningful that all of us have in our younger years also carries over into our older years, too. This desire typically isn't a temporary need – it stays with us as we age. World-renowned Psychologist Abraham Maslow, in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation," stated that human beings thirst for love and belonginess. These needs, according to Maslow, are most central to human growth and development, just after our physiological needs (such as food, shelter, and sleep) and need for safety and wellbeing. We all want to be loved. We all want to have a place in which we feel accepted. This is especially true of the men, women, and children staying here at City Mission.

The staff and residents at City Mission are extremely appreciative for the season of giving that capped off 2017. Thanksgiving and Christmas were awesome times in which we witnessed lives being touched in a positive, loving manner. We thank our donors and volunteers for all that they give today, for what they gave last year, and for what they have given in years past! Please continue to give your time, talent, and treasure in 2018 and beyond because we all – every one of us – have a desire and a need to "fit in" and belong, and that's what your gifts provide.

Author: Brandon Montague, Findlay City Mission

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