Soul Sisters
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I love carrot cake and hate small talk. Cheri craves ice cream and works out religiously. Friends for more than 20 years, we're two Starbucks-drinking, Levi-wearing, munchkin-rearing friends.
But when Cheri and I mention we're on a "spiritual journey" together, people often give us blank stares. We suspect they're imagining us at Bible studies and weekend retreats. Some of those images ring true, but faith-filled friendship is more about sharing the rough-and-tumble of ordinary life than practicing spiritual piety.
Jesus and his 12 stinky fisherman friends spent more time at the beach than at a synagogue. Their hillside picnics probably felt more like church than most days at the temple. Every social gathering was a feast of friendship and faith. Even today, a circle of friends—with Christ at the center—is one of God's desires for his church. He continually sows seeds of community, whether we're scheduling play dates or coffee breaks, joining book clubs or Bible studies. Yet too often we rely more on our frenetic pace than on faith-inspiring friendships to serve our souls.
In their book Friends for the Journey, Madeleine L'Engle and Luci Shaw describe friendship as a gift "given to you—holy, happy, tough, tender, wild, wacky, a sacrifice, and a sacrament." Finding soul sisters means becoming more intentional about spiritual friendship. Cheri and I have discovered these important ways to foster it.
1. Cheri: Open your heart and mind. Start by asking God to put people in your life who'll inspire your faith and nourish your soul. And be persistent about putting yourself in the presence of people you want to learn from—even if they're different from you.
When Sally and I first met as roommates at college, we were obvious opposites. Sally had jet-black hair and an operatic voice; I'm more introverted by nature. Though we shared little in common, we sensed there were things we could teach each other. So together we attended campus concerts and took train trips into the nearby city. Over that year—and the years that followed—God surprised us with the gift of being more than just sisters in Christ, but friends for the journey. It still surprises us how my introversion teaches Sally to live in the moment and wait on grace, and how her boisterous spirit nurtures my adventurous side. Together we're able to experience the full spectrum of a faith-filled life: stillness and movement, prayer and play.
When you're open to the Spirit's work in your life, friendship can spark anywhere, anytime: at the grocery store, in a book club, or in a church small group.
2. Sally: Honor and celebrate each other. When my husband and I returned from China with our adopted daughter, Emily Grace, Cheri loaded her clan into a minivan to make the snow-laden trek to Illinois for a welcoming celebration.
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2007, January/February, Vol. 29, Issue 1, Page 38
Related Topics:
Friendship, Intimacy in, Friendship, Spiritual, Holy Spirit, Journey, Learning, Partnership, Prayer
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isabellah momanyi
Dear friend , Greetings in the name of Jesus .Thank you for your love and the work God has given you .We are a small group of believers here kisii kenya .I am saved since 2007 i was appointed as a church elder and a minister of God in these group because the work is growing and their is need to expand ,it is our prayer to get friends like you for encouragement and advise .I am a leader of two congregation and our request to you to join your ministry and expand working together here Kenya.Happy to hear from you.. Yours kennedy and Isabellah
Abigail
Thank you my sister for sharing your heart. This article is important, and encouraging, and helps to remind us that true friendships are required, as no man is an Island. It also reminds us to honor and celebrate our friends, by putting Christ's love which is shed abroad in our hearts, to action, doing the kind of things, like you wrote about. You never know how many hearts you have reached with God's love, and have touched their lives. You have touched mine. God bless you and your family.
folake
I had a soul sister who i share my entire heart with we went to high school together and we are happily married though we apart geographically but we are still together because our husbands are also soul brother what a joy to have her as a sister.
Tracy Pace
I had problems and coudn't access all the pages but this is a beautiful topic. We are meant to love, uphold and care for each other- out of everything Jesus teaches and Judaism teaches our works for each other are the most important symbol of our love and trust for G_d. For those who feel they have no friend, hang in there, let the people in your church community know how you are feeling and make a unique space for you. Most of all remember, no one is alone. Pray and G_d is right there with you. Love to everyone, and especially to those who feel no love right now ((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
anne
I had what I thought was a soul sister. I shared my entire heart with her over a 2 yr period. We prayed together regularly - she is the one who showed me what a legalistic life I had been living and taught me about a relationship with Jesus. I move every 2-3 yrs to a different state or country. It is hard to make soul friends and keep them with this lifestyle. This last friend I know God brought into my life and I believed we would be friends forever but within a year of me moving states she stopped contacting me. She has other soul friends and I guess I was just spare change to her yet to me she was a very special friend. How does one trust someone again, in my situation. I don't have more than 3 yrs in one location and at my age (40's) most people have their lifelong friends. I have found many women are not very welcoming when a newcomer enters their "group" and yes that is true with so called "christian women" - in fact the worst experience I had was with Christian women
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