The Drive Home

While driving home from work last night I was thinking about my family and friends. I'm not very good at staying in touch with people outside of my immediate family. I find myself caught up in the day to day, minute to minute happenings in my own life and stop looking up and around to see what's going on in the lives of the people around me. I drove past the church we attend, and realized that I haven't taken any time to pitch in and help around there for a few weeks either.
My immediate response to trouble is to circle the wagons and hunker down... I draw into myself and surround myself with my wife and kids. I set the answering machine to pick up on the second ring (instead of the fourth) and stop looking at my e-mail. I go into communications lock-down.
I haven't even been facing any major troubles this summer, just the normal stuff that comes with owning a house and having kids... air conditioner breaking down, siding blown off the side of the house, fence repairs, kids going to camp, kids that need to be entertained, minor injuries, a pool that has been a thorn in my side, a couple rooms that need paint, and a family that keeps begging for a puppy (that I'm sure they're not ready to take care of).
When I mention my concerns to my wife, her immediate response is "Have you been praying about it?" And I am forced to admit to myself that even my communications with God have been shut down... Then I'm forced to look at myself and realize that "hunkering down" is exactly the opposite of what I should be doing. I should be sharing my concerns with God and praying for his guidance. I should be talking with friends and family that have dealt with the same issues, and request their advice. Times of trouble are when I should be willing to rely on the resources I've gathered over the course of a lifetime (friends, family and God). It's a lesson I have to learn again and again.
God, help me to remember the value of the relationships I've formed over the course of my life. Help me to open up and look outward in times of trouble, and not to withdraw from the rest of the world.