Skip to main content

Common Bonds and Warm Memories

I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: I love it when I can see the hand of God at work! Probably everyone knows that I do a lot of freelance work. One day I found an ad for an anthology. I had what I thought was the perfect story, so I sent it. A little while later I received a phone call from the woman heading it up, Nancy. We talked for a while, seeming to hit it off. Of course, with both of us being writers there was naturally a common bond.

A few months later the book came out. As I read through the other authors’ stories I realized mine was different. Mine was a little more on the humorous side than the serious. Nancy then sent me a message inviting me to like the book’s Facebook page and send a photo and an update to the story. She then sent me a friend request so she could tag me in the Facebook post.

It was after we were friends and she was looking at my Facebook page that she realized we had another common bond. We both attended Houghton College. Now this may not seem like much to you, but I’ve been to Houghton. And for anyone else who’s been there, they know that it’s a special type of common bond. You see Houghton is small, very, very small. There were only 1500 students there when I attended. Not to mention it’s in one of the remotest parts of New York State ever. Civilization is about an hour away. When two people realize they have both been there, it’s a big deal.

Houghton is where I learned a lot about writing. It was where I matured as a Christian. It was where I made some of my best friends with whom I am still in contact today.

While Nancy and I were separated by a few years at Houghton, we walked the same ground, we ate at the same cafeteria, and we worshiped the same chapel.

As Christians, we all have a common bond already, but when we can see that God has given us more commonalities it just proves to me how He is at work in our lives every day.

It’s the beginning of a new year and I challenge you to find common bonds between you and other Christians besides your faith. Have you had similar experiences? Do you like some of the same things? Your similarities may draw you into a friendship you never expected, leaving you blessed beyond belief.

If you’d like a copy of the book, just click on the cover to the right. It will make you cry and my story may make you laugh.



And…since it’s Thursday, here’s a few throwback pictures that some of you Houghton people may enjoy. Warm memories on this cold day!














Comments

  1. It's kind of you to say we graduated "a few years" apart! I am still friends to this day with women from the 4th New floor, even though I transferred from Houghton to Penn State after one year to pursue my journalism degree. I went from 1,300 to 35,000 students!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's a huge jump in student body! I much prefer the 1500.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I thrived in the crush of 35,000 students!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Not me. I like small towns, small schools, small churches.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Monday Meditations - Ambivilence

Ambivalence Oh, how this word defines us as humans! We are ambivalent about so many things. We are wishy-washy. We can't seem to make up our minds about anything. Just look at a woman's bedroom after she has gotten dressed. The pile of clothes on the bed tells us that dress is the wrong color, that one is uncomfortable, today's the wrong mood for that one, that one isn't appropriate for the situation, that one doesn't fit anymore… I've known women that can't make up their minds about who they want to date. Some can't make up their minds about which women they truly want to be friends with. College students enter the university with one major and come out with another, yet work in a completely different third field. Couples get married only to find out shortly after the wedding that marriage (or the person they chose in the first place) isn't really right for them I could go on with examples of how we have mixed feelings, unc

Monday Meditations - Valuable

Valuable Sometimes as a mom it's hard to feel valuable. It's often a thankless job. Nobody sees even half of what you do. Work is often paid for with a screaming baby, a temper tantrum throwing toddler, a temperamental teenager, and a husband who just wants his dinner. I once read an article that said stay-at-home moms "should" be earning $162,581 a year. Where are my mom friends who see that in their bank account? You know something? Our mom value is not in money. Being a mom is the highest calling God gave to women, not climbing the corporate ladder. I am not dissing moms who work outside the home. Each one has to make choices as to what is best for her family. This is for all those who choose to stay at home, those who sometimes feel value less. Our value was in the little lives you are molding each day. Your payment is all the sticky, syrupy kisses and the I love yous from the lips of those to whom you gave life. Our value is raising ch

Monday Meditations - Joyful

Joyful What do you think of when you hear the world "joyful"? The giggling of children? A smiling face? A happy surprise? These things can all bring joy, but I have found that being joyful is a choice, a state of mind. When my father passed away a couple years ago, I posted this on my Facebook page: Today I choose to rejoice, in spite of my sadness. I rejoice in the fact that my father is no longer sick or suffering. I rejoice in the fact that I was born to parents who loved me enough to show me The Way, The Truth, and The Life. I rejoice in the fact that my parents are together again after many years of being apart. I rejoice in the fact that I will see them both again someday. I rejoice that when I do see them, they will both be whole and healthy. I know "rejoice" shows up a lot there, but you'll also notice the word "choose." That's part of being joyful in difficult times. We can be sad and still be joyful. We can be dis