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!