Day Eighteen

Day Eighteen // March 9 // Companionship

“Shared joy is double joy. Shared sorrow is half sorrow.” – Swedish Proverb –

When Jesus began His ministry, He called followers to come and help Him fish for people. They traveled together, served together, and processed their experiences together. Literally, companionship is one of the hallmarks of the Christian faith. Not only were they involved in the work of ministry, deep bonds were formed around meals, in laughter around a campfire, and in the facing of impossible challenges together. Later the Apostle Peter summarized what they learned from Jesus: “Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22). As the second century of Christianity began to unfold, the faith had spread throughout the Roman Empire – particularly to some of its great cities, like Rome

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and Carthage in North Africa. At that time, Christians were the objects of great suspicion from their neighbors and government officials because they had given up the behaviors of their previously pagan lifestyle.

Wild rumors had begun to circulate in some places about what Christians actually taught and did in their meetings together. To clear the air and defend the good name of Christianity, a church leader in Carthage named Tertullian wrote a brief explanation of Christian practices and a critique of the unjust accusations that had been made against them. In his work, he wrote at one point that these attacks against Christianity were made out of jealousy because Christians displayed a character of life that their pagan neighbors did not possess. Tertullian wrote: “It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See how they love one another, they say, for they themselves are animated by mutual hatred; how they are ready even to die for one another, they say, for they themselves will sooner put to death.” What if those outside the faith could look at us and remark, “See how much they love one another!” If our Christian mission is combined with deep Christian companionship, then a powerful force for good is unleashed in the world. We live in a world hungering for companionship. Social isolation has led to fear and suspicion. Researchers tell us that 43% of Americans feel isolated from others and

57 have very few meaningful in-person social interactions. The antidote to this condition is companionship. It is the practice of presence and walking with others through life. It is the bringing of others to our side… or us coming alongside theirs. Companionship means spending time together. It is laughing at the silly moments and crying in the broken places. Companionship is rooted in five practices: • Hospitality. This creates a safe space, offering rest and refreshment in an often tense, confusing, and traumatic world. • Neighboring. This is an invitation to discover what we have in common with one another, set aside our power and privilege, and meet as equals. • Sharing the journey side-by-side. This calls us to look out at the world together, not imposing our priorities on others. • Listening. This practice is rooted in hearing another’s story without judgment. • Accompaniment. Walking through life with others, building a community of support and a circle of care.

Lent bids us to reflect upon our journey of faith. To ponder what it means to be the side of Christ. Will we deepen our sense of Christian companionship? Will we live in such a way that the world will look at us and say, “See how they love one another?”