Shared Stories

I feel connected to many people. Of course I've lived a long time and in many places, and have had intense experiences with a wide variety of people through the years. Sometimes I just pause and ponder the wonder of that for awhile. For instance, the college buddy that recently got in touch with me––if we saw each other in person, we would pick up where we left off––no doubt about it. The things that connect us--primarily shared experiences--are forever branded into our hearts and memories. I saw cousins at our family reunion that I hadn't seen in decades. But because we shared something together, we instantly felt connected and had memories to talk about. There are a couple of families in this fair city––our paths rarely cross––but we're connected. We have shared experiences from growing up, and an intertwining of old friends we keep up on. When we run into each other at the dentist's office or Walmart, we chat at a level deeper than newer friendships.

I think it's partly about the intensity of what we experienced together––all these people in Spouse's and my past––high school youth group (we were tight!), college life, camps, nurses' training, seminary, house church, sponsoring refugee families together, missionary life in Africa, having babies and raising kids, mission trips––I guess these are all what you could call "bonding" experiences. And probably the strongest bonds come from hard times we went through together. That's a big "weave together," as well as our lives together in Christ.

I love the stories I share with others. For me its like a special collection I own ... my own personal heirlooms. I must be feeling sentimental tonight. Anything to avoid studying!

Photos: Spouse and I in skits while we were summer day camp counselors at our college. You can probably guess who is who!