We are so
blessed at The Ridge – like I have to tell any of you that?! One way I have
been so blessed these past few months is through our monthly women’s gathering,
Life Together. For those of you who are not familiar with Life Together we’ve
extended an invitation to all our Ridge women on the second Saturday of each
month to come, get to know each other, have a cup of coffee and share
experiences. And - as to be expected where two or more gather in his name - God
has shown up. BIG time.
Some of you may be familiar with The
Herd, our monthly gathering of men with the purpose of creating connection and
relationships. The reason it is called The Herd is the fact that there's
strength in the animal herd, danger occurs when you stray from the herd or
isolate yourself from the herd...there's an opportunity for an enemy to attack.
HOWEVER, as we were trying to find a name for this space, we just couldn't go
there. We considered The Cattle, The Cows, The Sows... I bet there's not one
woman in this church who would find it appealing to associate herself with a
group where she is considered part of a herd...implying we're cattle, cows,
buffalo, whatever. You get the picture.
Yet...what is at the heart of The
Herd is also the key to “doing life together”. The premise is that life
together is better than life in isolation – there's strength, protection in
numbers. We're meant to have each other's backs and care for one another. And,
yes, I'm aware that this whole “doing life together” is the latest in Christian
catch phrases...hang out in small group, meet someone for coffee, workout
together...you're doing life together. It may be a bit cliché, but it captures
an important concept...that God asks us to love Him and to love each other. How
do we love each other? We spend time together, get to know one another and get
involved in each other's lives. It's pretty basic.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a theologian
who wrote a book entitled “Life Together” states:
“We must not underestimate how
strongly the individualizing pressures of our performance-based culture stand
against a life 'rooted and grounded in God's love.' (Eph 3:17) God intends to transform our
lives into a more holy shape, and this transformation never takes place in
isolation from others. It is truly what pastor/theologian Bonhoeffer called a life
together. If we are to continue
spiritually maturing into people of integrity, wisdom, compassion and service
in Jesus' name, then we will do so only in the company and care of others.”
And it's not just Bonhoeffer, it's
all over the Bible...
In fact, it's a commandment: “Love
your neighbor as yourself!” Psalm 133 says “Behold how good and how pleasant it
is for brethren (or sistas!) to dwell together in unity.” Ecclesiastes says,
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and
has no one to help him up!...Though one may be overpowered, two can defend
themselves. A cord of three stands is not quickly broken.” Jesus says in the
book of John, “Greater love has no one than this, than a man lay down his life
for his friends.”
We aren't meant to do life alone. We
have sisters in faith who are going through the same things we are going
through...striving, struggling, working...life is hard. BUT it's also blessed
because we can be here for each other...rooted and established in God's deep
intense love ...the love that will give us power and strength to go about our
days...and that will fill our cup to overflowing if we
let Him.
That's why God has created this
space for us - to grow in God's love and to care for one another. That's Life
Together.
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