by Rev. Aidan Moon

People and Purpose

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”

– Psalm 90:17, English Standard Version

No, this is not an episode of “Why women live longer than men.” But it is a picture, to me, of friendship, purpose, and community.

Sometimes we think of community, of fellowship, in terms of sitting down for coffee with one another, long conversations, or maybe potlucks and church.

For me, fellowship has to do with the place where work and recreation, purpose and play, come together. I think of a group of men that gather to hunt together every fall. I’ve had a chance to be a part of that off and on over the years. And it is precisely the shared activity that provides an opportunity for that conversation and community. Those relationships, formed over years of gathering, are fertile ground for mentorship, accountability, and love. And this picture represents a bit of that. This spring, we got together to cut firewood, and in this case, hang a new meat pole for the next hunting season. There was problem solving. There was discussion and debate. There was laughter. All around a shared task. Everyone had their part to play.

Community is not just about shared love, but shared purpose. God gives us a work to do. We have a mission! Love to carry out, mercy to show, witness to give! And in this world, we all have roles to play, and work to do. And in the rhythms of work and play and recreation – particularly when these things overlap, like in the case of our mountain retreats, the real richness of fellowship has a chance to bloom. God is present where his people, formed and connected to Christ, gather together around shared work. With intentionality, time, and shared space, we are formed to love one another. Give it time.

^“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…” – Romans 12:4-6a

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado