As a child my church experiences were different than what I live today. I heard about God. The table at the front of the church had the words “I am the bread of life” emblazoned on it. But I could not tell you an experience of God while I was there except for the Sunday morning, early on Easter. With some rain and some sleet, hardy souls climbed up the hill behind the elementary school near our church. We sang and the sun came out. That was perhaps my God experience.

They let my band practice in the fellowship hall. I sang Christmas carols to senior citizens and I sang in our church chorus. (Well, until we got in trouble for playing the Doors “Light My Fire” just as the choir director appeared.)

Church experiences often mold or are part of the molding of our becoming an adult.

I can tell you there were a few people I think who loved me. But like? That might have been a stretch.

Fast forward to our church fellowship meal of yesterday.

Once a month our church has gathered and had a fellowship meal. Over time it has become one of the more popular Sundays. People serve, laugh and eat. Recently we added another expression of church gathering found in the Bible. (There are many types of gathering. All different. All necessary at various times.)That included placing our chairs in a large circle. In the middle a table held small cups of juice(Symbolic of His blood.) and bread (Symbolic of His body.)and the body of believers sat about. People began to share testimonies of the goodness of God. Even troubles had hope and the testimony of God in our midst.

I saw lives transformed just a bit yesterday. I saw tears and emotion. I know I felt I knew people better.

I shared with a friend that maybe, just maybe, we go through things so the barriers are down. Maybe it is the allowance for people to connect to us. With us. That our hearts are knit. That as we grow and get stronger, the strength of the body comes from the divine connection that is formed during down times. That the resulting body is stronger than the individual and their life. I know we call it synergy, but what if we could grab hold of the need in the midst of the trial that we might see Jesus come forth nd be expressed magnificently?

Perhaps God is in the habit of “lighting people’s fire” for His goodness!