Wandering

As I was reading the Bible today, I came across the story of Cain and Abel. As I read the famous story, I found a part of the curse placed upon Cain by God quite interesting. God says, "You [Cain] will be a restless wanderer on the earth" (Gen. 4:12). I found it interesting that restlessness and wandering is given as a curse. American culture has always valued the lone wanderer, whether it be a Clint Eastwood cowboy or a Jack Kerouac novel. But is this a virtue or a curse? Do we all long for belonging, for community more than fierce independence? Or perhaps independence detached from fellowship. Can a wanderer truly survive without community? Or are we are at least searching like Kerouac for a brotherhood of wanderers? Do we search for roots, belonging, to be known and to know, because that is hardwired to our identity? Perhaps I should return to Bonhoeffer's 'Life Together'...