Where
do I begin to explain what a blessing this summer's Bible study was to me? I
know I've blogged about it briefly before, but I feel like I
need to expand on just how wonderful it was.
First
of all, the study itself was fantastic. The author had new ways of looking at
things which deepened our understanding and faith. Some of us in the study have
been Christians for 30+ years and yet we came away with a fresh understanding
of many Scriptures. The study looked into nine major threads running through
the Bible and was a very big picture outlook on God's one Big Story. It was
such a refreshing change from studying the Bible piece meal, where the Big
Story often gets lost in the details.
Then, there were the ladies. Our ages ranged from 20s to 70s. None of us attend
the same church, and aren't even necessarily the same denomination, but it
didn't matter. We came together to study, to discuss, to pray. But, also to
laugh, eat and joke around. The conversations were open and sometimes
vulnerable. There were some tears, but also so much laughter: LOUD laughter
that apparently (according to Debra's husband) could be heard to the street,
lol.
Five of the ladies were already in a study at my house last summer and five were new. You never know how a particular group is going to gel, but I feel like God called exactly this group of ladies to this particular study. The biggest examples of His guiding were Marj and Lois. I didn't really know
Marj although we attended the same BSF. On the second last Friday of BSF, her discussion group combined with mine. By this time I
had already started planning the summer study and was thinking about who to
invite. During the discussion, I felt called to invite Marj, but there was no opportunity to do so. I didn't have
it in me to walk up to her, a virtual stranger, and ask whether she wanted to
come to my house for a Bible study. I prayed about it during the week.
On the last Friday, her group was with mine again, but she was sitting on the
other side of the table and I thought I probably wouldn't get a chance to talk
to her. But then, the group leader threw the door wide open for me when she
asked, "what are you doing in the summer to keep up your Bible study?"
I responded that I was holding a summer Bible study at my house. Marj jokingly
said "where do you live?". The discussion continued and then came to
an end. In the hallway, I ran into Marj and asked whether she wanted my
address. She said no, that she was already committed to something. Upstairs, I
persisted. I asked for her email and said that I would send her details for her
to think about, and if she wanted to bring her friend, she could do that too.
After the lecture, she came up to me and said that she'd been thinking about it
and maybe she should come after all. I said I'd be in touch. Needless to say,
she ended up joining the study and it was such a God thing from beginning to
end; He knew we needed each other.
I didn't really know Lois either, but as I prayed and thought about who to
invite to the study, I kept thinking about her. I had last emailed her in
November after she'd finished (temporarily) leading my BSF discussion group. At
the time, I had been sorry that our time together had been so short and had
said that maybe our paths would cross again. But now it was six months
later...would she even remember who I was? I decided to take the risk and email
her. I half expected her to be too busy or say no, or think that I was plain
weird for even asking. But, I emailed anyway. As it turned out, she said yes
and it was another God thing. She was such a source of inspiration for me: her
words, her example, her faith. I also felt a connection to her; it was like
being with an older (better) version of myself. I've never met someone before
who is so like me in many ways and yet also a more mature me, the one I aspire
to be someday. God is amazing in how He brings people together and
how He directs our lives and leads us to people we didn't even know were
missing in our lives. He provided not only new insights into the Bible,
deeper friendships, fun and laughter, food, prayer, singing...but also
beautiful new friends; this Bible study was one of the best decisions I ever
made!! I had put in the effort organizing and hosting, but I ended up being so blessed in the process myself.
We wrapped up with a pot luck in Lois' stunning backyard. We went over the last
chapter, we prayed, we chatted and laughed for FOUR hours. Debra had even made
an early birthday cake for me, candle and all. It was such a lovely afternoon
and the perfect way to end the study. Going home, I was overflowing with
gratitude.
That same night, I received some really bad news. The worst kind. And yet, I
felt like God had been filling me up all summer, possibly for some dark days
ahead. Every week with these ladies, studying God's Word together filled me up.
The study was so big picture focused; we are just passing through, our true
home awaits. Thank God this is not it, this is just the preface to the real
story which is to come. Meanwhile, this study was in so many ways a beautiful foretaste
of what awaits us.
