A pile of shoes
by the door,
coats tossed
on a bed,
dishes piled in the sink;
conversations,
unhurried and
punctuated by laughter
and sweet silences;
a picture of community,
of belonging,
of acceptance.
The church's heart
beats to the tune
of allelon (one another).
Harmony
is the song
our lives should sing.
We are to
- be at peace with,,
- love as I have loved,
- belong to,
- be devoted to,
- encourage,
- build up,
- accept,
- instruct,
- greet,
- wait for,
- serve,
one another.
We are not to
- provoke
- lie to
- judge
- or grumble about
We are to be
- kind,
- compassionate,
- long-suffering with
And we are to
- spur on,
- pray for,
- offer hospitality to
- and love,
- love,
- love,
Allelon.
People in intimate,
sometimes messy,
interwoven threads
dipped in the blood
of Christ.
We are not snails,
carrying our homes
on our backs.
We are instead,
only a plank or joist
that needs others
to complete
the structure
of relationship.
Not every
connection fits,
but we must keep trying
if we are to know
the life more abundant
that is our promise.
It is available
as we struggle together
ever closer
to one another
and Christ.
