Doing Life Together

Jean and I returned on Wednesday from a trip to visit David and the grandkids in Alabama. It was a smooth trip and a very good visit. On this trip we met several of David's friends. They are wonderful people.

Today I was talking with my sister Nancy (who is recovering from shoulder surgery) about the ways in which our churches help us get through life. She used a couple great phrases which I plan to use myself. One is "doing life together." We all need one or more "affinity groups," groups of people with whom we share our life journey. The second phrase was "honest and safe." The two adjectives describe the qualities that our groups must have if they are to help us. A group must be honest, or we never reveal what is really happening in our lives. A group must also be safe. If it is not safe our confidences will be betrayed and our struggles will be turned into cheap gossip for other people,

A good "small group" or "support group" (or whatever you want to call it) lets us share the joys and the burdens of life. When one is struggling he or she gains strength from others. At a later time that same one will have resources to help others who face hard times. People find affinity groups in many places, but the church is in a good position to create these groups and to nurture them over the years.

I have a collections of friendships and people who provide support, but I can see the importance of having a few places where these are true groups rather than loose networks. We all need people to journey with us, groups of friends with whom we can do life together.

Good Energy

I have been enjoying life a lot lately. My usual view of winter is that it is a quiet time when everyone slows down. That has not been the case this year. A number of groups at the church are active and alert. We have an ecology group that is hard at work. The small group we attend had a great meeting yesterday -- we talked about our assigned topic (alternative worship) and discussed a number of other things also. We have a college senior who is beginning the process of becoming a Presbyterian minister. The committee planning the 200th anniversary for our church next year has decided to give all the funds we raise to a local agency that helps abused women and to a neighboring church that needs renovations. There might even be money enough to help a couple other groups.

I have changed my working schedule and I think I like the new way of doing things. I am spending my full mornings at the church, with the door open to visitors. Then I am getting away from the office in the afternoons -- to visit some days and to write and study other days.

This week we are headed for Alabama. We will visit with our son David and our two granddaughters. David's birthday is this month. We won't be there on the exact day of his birthday but it will be close enough for a good celebration. David and the kids have a long weekend because of President's Day. So we expect to have a long weekend visit. Next week we will be back in town around the middle of the week.

I have found a couple of my old friends are making good use of the internet, including Facebook. It is fun to see the pleasure that comes from learning and using new skills.