We were in their congregation for the weekend and had spent a lot of time with their people. We laughed, we teased, we played. But the most important thing I took home with me was the fellowship. The same believers, the same faith, the same baptism. The conversations that slowly merged into spiritual talk. The way our hearts blended as one. It was not hard to hug these ladies as we left. We had been richly blessed by their presence and my daughter wasn’t the only one who would miss them. 

On the way home I thought about this small congregation by the bayous of Louisiana and of all we shared. Maybe it was my age that was telling on me, I don’t know. But regardless of what it was, my heart was warmed at the thought of this group of people 539 miles away from home, who I could be on level ground with and feel at home—as one.

There was a time I didn’t treasure this. It was common place. Normal. Something I took for granted. And maybe there were times I longed for something more. But now. Now the lines had fallen in pleasant places. I found in myself a longing to stay one with my people, a drawing to come close, a joining of hearts. And maybe it’s partially due to a friend of mine who is changing me in ways I never dreamed. Whatever it is, is not important.

What is important is this faith that is so precious. Do we realize how beautiful it is to live and walk this narrow way? Do we treasure our relationship with God that has allowed us to have this relationship with each other? This tie that binds our hearts as one? This same Jesus knits our hearts together in such a heavenly fellowship our hearts overflow. 

I want to reach for your hand, smile into your eyes, draw you close to me. When this same Jesus is the foundation of us all, even the teasing can feel sacred. The laughter contains such joy. And the random words coming from our mouths feel like a breath of Heaven. It is an unexplainable goodness that can only come from our hearts being one with our Heavenly Father. It is no wonder we find this so delightful. For as we delight ourselves in Him, He gives us the desires of our hearts and what more could we desire than this—to be one with each other and Him.