"they went up to a room upstairs where they were staying, Pete, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, and Simon, Judas son of James...All of these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers."
Acts. 1: 14
Whenever I read this chapter, the certain women rise up to greet me. Part the mystery of their anonymity, part the injustice that they are unmentioned, part the delight of women and men followers gathered in an upper room, waiting and listening to God together...The beginning of the church.
I have a church that I attend that is my public place of worship. I belong to that group and they belong to me. But my personal church is certain women and men--who I meet together in various upper rooms, cell phone calls, emails, living rooms, offices, retreat spaces and wait and listen to God. Sometimes it is obvious that this is what we are doing, but mostly it is not. It is church lived out in ordinary time and space of shared meals and shared time.
The gift of certain women who listen to God in my life has been one of the most transformative things in my life. It is truly the reason that I follow Jesus. Without certain women and men to speak into my life, I do not know that I would be able to recognize the presence of Christ on my own.
Who are the certain women or men who are devoting themselves to prayer (meaning a life lived listening to God) in your life? How are they the church to you? What are the upper rooms of your life? Who is in the upper room of your heart as your certain women and men who listen to God with you and for you?
2 comments:
Defintely you and Marilyn and Peg, for sure. I sure do miss you! Wish it were a meal we could share and not just a phone call! I quite like this post.
Just met a friend for dinner last night that I don't get together with often, but when I do, it's good. Last night was one of those nights. I felt so refreshed and validated and understood. As I write this, I think of the passage that says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Ps. 133:1).
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