The Friends I call Church

I shared yesterday afternoon with several friends who I call church.  We enjoyed a meal, laughed at life, and eventually began to open our hearts and talk about the things which affect us most deeply for both the good and bad.  Our struggles laid bare, our insecurities confessed, and our shortcomings revealed, we began to notice something.  There was no condemnation, no posturing, or jockeying for control or attention.  We just were!  It never ceases to amaze me at this point when after one bears all, the response form others in the group is supportive and encouraging.  One may relate by sharing a time when they dealt with a similar thing and Jesus helped them through it.  Another may share a truth from scripture, or correct a misapplication of some popular Christian cliché.  Tears are shared, hugs exchanged and prayers entered into.  We all leave changed for the better, more focused on Christ than when we came, and looking forward with faith and expectancy to the next opportunity to be the church, whether at an official gathering, or just through e-mail, text, phone conversation, or a coffee shared on the town.  I can’t help but feel that the Lord is smiling and I can’t help but feel excited about what He is doing in the lives of each of us that are opening ourselves up to be His church.