Currently Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community By Dietrich Bonhoeffer see related

For Lent this year, I have undertaken to read Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book, Living Together.  I'm only a few pages into it, but already he has raised an interesting point that I think is worth considering.  Boiling it down, I think what Bonhoeffer is saying is that if we understood what it is like to be a prisoner, to be in exile [voluntarily or not voluntarily] or to be isolated by illness, then we would never again take for granted the community that is afforded us.  And who would know about this better than Bonhoeffer, whose life ended in a concentration camp.

Perhaps then, the first discipline of Lent for me this year will be to reflect on the preciousness of the community of the Church.  Working with congregations day in and day out, expecially when they are in trouble or in crisis, tends to make me forget how precious these communities are.  They are trying to be disciples of Christ by their best lights.  They fail, of course.  I fail.  We all fail at being the disciples that Christ would have us be.

But Bonhoeffer's reminder is that, for the exile, the simple appearance and briefest prayer of a brother or sister is enough to work a small miracle of hope in one's life.  I am not in exile, but I can choose to live as though every single Christian brother or sister is a gift from God.  It won't be easy.  But then what discipline is?  So I lift you up, because if you are reading this you are part of my community. Be blessed this Lenten season by your community.  And be a blessing to someone else as well. 

Peace and grace,

Marja