Life with Lindsey

Life Together

April 8th, 2008

Life Together is a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an Christian theologlian and activist in the Nazi resistance, which I am studying with some of my Chi Alpha gals this quarter. It also feels like the theme of these last weeks.

Right after spring quarter began last week, we had a visit from Ria, a Stanford Chi Alpha alum from the island of Trinidad who’s completing the Ford Fellowship in New York City before finishing her Master’s at Cambridge next year. As if that wasn’t enough–she’s also getting married this summer in Ghana! Paula, my co-missionary, and I hosted a bridal shower for her at my home. It was a special time of honoring her and gathering together.

In addition to the shower, we also had two birthdays to celebrate on campus last week, which we did with balloons and cake and lots of laughter. Add to that a breakfast meeting with the worship team, an evening dinner discussion about the book of Acts, a mid-week service celebrating the Holy Spirit, a girl’s Bible study on the book of Exodus and all of the “together-ness” starts to add up.

But that’s not an accident! In fact, I will be speaking at Chi Alpha tomorrow night on why real community is so important. After the Day of Pentecost in the book of Acts, chapter 2, this incredible thing happens:

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

And still today we’re challenged by the way those early beleivers in Jesus lived life together.

I close with an African proverb which gives me pause, in the midst of my everyday busy-ness:

If you want to go fast, travel alone, but if you want to go far, stick together.

Entry Filed under: Personal News