To know and be known

Well this afternoon I got home again after four days away at a pastor's renewal retreat. I really had little idea of what I was going to. There were nine of us who met together for the retreat. Five were Anglicans, one a Baptist, two AOG and myself from the Church of Christ. Prior to going I had met none of these guys (other than my driver) The bulk of our time was spent in the telling of our stories to one another. After establishing a covenant together, each of us in turn shared over a couple of hours our more the story of our lives so far. There was incredible openness and transparency as we each shared the highs and lows, the struggles and the joys, the conflicts and the pain - we told our stories and listened to one another with a deep sense of awe at the road others have traveled. I felt an overwhelming sense of privilege in being able to listen to each story. I stood on holy ground. At the end of each story we would pray and give thanks to God for the person who had shared. The experience brought an incredible sense of bonding with a group of guys. In just four days we became friends who had shared something together that few people would ever experience. Our stories were all different, and yet all the same. They all told of a life that was interuptted by the grace and mercy of God. We continue the journey together. We made a commitment to meet together over a period of three years.