On Sunday night, our Nearly/Newly Married class got together for a barbecue/hang-out. It was great to take a break from what has been a very hectic several months to relax, break bread, and share our hearts. The last year has brought much change in our class: 4 new couples involved, 3 weddings (two down, one to go this weekend), 2 babies (one is here and one is on the way in less than a month), and 1 salvation (Yahoo Janet!). We have walked through surgeries, family members passing away, job changes, and many of the ins-and-outs of life. And we have done all of that in the context of…doing life together.

Sustaining relationships is challenging, and in many respects it would be easier to invest the minimal time and energy required to foster acquaintances. Instead, those pictured below are following the route of building lifelong friendships. They have decided that easier is not equal to, in any sense of the word, better. In choosing “easier”, the opportunities to share the joys, sorrows, and the everything in betweens of life that we are intended to with others who are striving to love Jesus and people with their all would be missed.

I Thessalonians 2:8 says: “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” (ESV)

I cannot imagine what this life would be like without the people who have become and are becoming dear to us-true gifts from God as we share our lives. Whose hearts will be sown in with ours over the course of the next year? Is the number of those whom you hold dear growing or shrinking? How are you offering to others the verse above? Community is waiting for you-take the opportunity to share in the gospel of God and your very selves. Living in isolation is for…the birds (though they, too, fly in flocks-so in many respects that age-old phrase doesn’t make any sense!).