I have written before about Friday morning and it bears attention again. Most of the people in the group have been followers of Jesus for many, many years, if not their entire lives. But, not a one will say this recent experience has been anything less than truly transformational. Actually, miraculous. And, we don’t toss that word around lightly.

There’s not a one of us who emerges thinking we’d have rather been anywhere else than right there. I said before that this is church. Really and truly church. Non-church people who think of a particular thing when they think of church would not recognize it. Perhaps many or even most church people would not recognize it. While we have a kind of loose structure, there aren’t rules. We talk with one another, sharing joys and concerns. We read and listen to a few short pieces of scripture. We sing. Well, some of us sing. We laugh and weep. And, we pray. Boy, do we pray. We are transparent to one another. We extend our sharing and praying to a whole lot of people who are not present. It’s like everyone is family.

Unlike our amazing and very similar couples’ small group, this group is almost all women. A number of them are either related or have been close friends for something like thirty years. Their children have grown up together. Frequently, these young adult children are present if their work or college breaks allow. When Diane’s dear friend, Susan, was diagnosed with the inoperable brain cancer two and a half years ago, Diane quickly joined the spontaneous prayer group that broke out in Susan’s home. Since we had just retired, it was now possible to make a 7:30am Friday session. I believe I started attending two or three months later. Now, there is really no distinction. Life long friends, blood family, a newcomer like me. It feels like we’re all basically the same. Just Family. We coined the cute phrase: Little Band of Believers. Woven together by common threads. The threads become cords that bind in love.

Today was special. Especially hard and especially loving. I have written about how this group (just like our small group and other dear friends) came alongside Diane and me six weeks ago and hasn’t left for a moment. What began as Team Susan (and still is!!), has expanded. There are others, including me, who have faced tremendous challenges since the inception. And, now, the latest. Dear Shannon, our leader if we have one now. She arrives each Friday morning, as cheery as a spring day, but with a bit of wit and a twinkle. She has always prepared a few thoughts that have struck her that week, often about Susan or someone in need. Perhaps a reflection she’d like to share. She refers briefly to scripture then plays a piece of music, having dutifully printed out the lyrics. When Susan’s husband, Andy, is present (when work allows), they have a give and take like two siblings who love to tease.

Shannon was told earlier this week that she probably has multiple myeloma, a tough cancer. Her husband and two remarkable daughters joined us, as did some others of that younger generation. We were also joined by several others so our little band was unusually large. Nothing was really different, however. We laughed, cried, prayed deeply, sang and laid hands on Shannon, as they had done to me some weeks ago. Beautiful Shannon, surrounded by people who love her and will not leave her side for as long as this thing takes.

How else would one want to live their life?

As I’m writing this, Diane just told me that a text came through that Shannon has rushed back to the hospital. We stopped what we were doing to pray as so many others are doing. The network is abuzz. We are of one body.

I know that some will ask the purpose of prayer. There is always debate about how that works. I understand the debate. I get the questions. I don’t dismiss them as irrelevant. Maybe I’ll write about that at some point.

But, here’s something that can’t be dismissed. The power of people who love one another. Who surrender into one another and care for each other. If that’s all prayer is (and it isn’t, by the way), that alone would warrant the practice.

Fifteen years ago, there is no way I could have imagined this kind of life. Not a chance. You might as well have tried to sell me swamp land in Florida. The journey since has been nothing short of miraculous. And, to think Diane and I are connected to so many others in relationships like this, it’s just beyond words. So, with that, I’ll end for now.

Lord, please shower Shannon and her family with grace and love. Embrace them. Surround them. Provide them with the medical care they desperately need. Give them strength and courage. Help all of us to reach out to them, whether we know them well or are perhaps reading about them here for the first time. Please heal her body and lift her spirits. She is your daughter and loves you so much. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.