“You and I are here, and I hope that Christ is between us as a third.”
Aelred of Rievaulx wrote these words as a young English monk in the 12th century, but this is something we all need, whether you’re a monk or not. Scripture puts it this way: “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) This Sunday, Barney Ford, Mary Vandel Young and Raquel Rogers will begin leading a 10am Formation Forum that will get us thinking about this deeper kind of friendship.
In my own life, four friends and I have met together regularly since 2008. We have no task to perform, no productive job to accomplish. Our singular aim is close companionship, with “Christ between us as a third.” Or, in our case, as a sixth.
We typically meet in Austin, so we eat tacos. Something Aelred didn’t get to enjoy! But we also listen to each other. We describe how we’re feeling in our vocations, in important relationships, in triumphs, and in the less triumphant stuff. We speak gracious words to painful circumstances. We laugh at mistakes. We ask spiritually curious questions. And, we pray over each other. It’s actually not easy work. But it’s a type of friendship that is invaluable.
If all this sounds unfamiliar or daunting, no worries. The Forum’s goal will be to equip us for these unique God-infused friendships. So, add a reminder to your calendar, and we’ll see you Sunday at 10am!
-Eric
