The call to live in joy and gratitude is ever present; all we need to do is take the time to notice it. By accepting Christianity’s invitation, we embrace life. All are welcome to enjoy this loving, inclusive community. This can be soothing and healing by restoring peace to our souls, strengthening us to live in the light.

Living a Christian life involves sharing time and talents to create meaningful connections. In the space between our daily responsibilities, such as work and family, we can express our faith through acts of love bringing us closer together. Some of this is a reflex reaction where we, without thinking, put our spiritual beliefs into practice. Other times, we must intentionally choose to find those communities where we can gather in shared faith.

Recently, our church began hosting monthly bible journaling sessions. Here people are invited to pair their creativity with self-selected bible passages. The practice of bible journaling allows interaction with scripture into a personal, meaningful way. Partaking in this activity is something I have done for the past five years, generally in solitude, after having learned about it at a regional conference for church leaders. Now, by accepting the invitation to share my practice with others in fellowship, I can reveal how God is showing up in my life and learn how He is at work in the lives of others. The regular gatherings foster beautiful evenings of laughs and reflection where we communicate about our spirituality with one another, thereby multiplying the impact through fellowship.

Fellowship is a term often associated with faith traditions evoking images of social halls filled with cookies and coffee following a worship service or the library where we meet to reflect on scripture in study. However, the concept of fellowship extends beyond religious contexts to include any gathering of people united by a shared interest or purpose. It can be a gathering of friends, family, or a group of strangers united in a common purpose such as poetry or art. By participating in these communities, we grow closer in shared love and mutual respect.

God is easy for me to see in solitude. The uninterrupted, quiet times are gifts from the Lord to strengthen us and give us respite. At the end of my dock, I breathe knowing the holy spirit is at work in me. This is lovely. Yet, this is not enough to live fully in the spirit. We must connect with others; breaking bread, swapping stories, and encouraging one another’s pursuits as expressions of love linking us to one another. The overt sharing of beliefs is not necessary to connect us to the beautiful world. However, when we speak of our faith in a place where we are not alone, we can take comfort in knowing it is a shared understanding of the Christian life.

The earth and sky, along with all of creation, beckons us to pay attention, to care, to show up and participate. When we join with others in these endeavors, we grow closer to a community of believers in love. Let us embrace the never-ending invitation to joy, thanksgiving, and spiritual growth.