“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” – Simone Weil

C.S. Lewis understood as well as many, that hearing God and living the With-God life requires community. He believed it so much that he wanted children to learn it from the beginning. Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter go into Narnia…together.

Lewis’s good friend J.R.R. Tolkien embedded this idea of community in his great work as well. When Frodo starts on his epic journey, he begins relatively alone, then he is in a fellowship, and finally, it is winnowed down to two on the side of the mountain of Doom. But while he feels alone, he is never truly alone. He always has Sam. And they discover and fulfill their destiny—together.

The writer of Hebrews knew this truth as well:

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Heb. 10:24-25

The Quakers have what they call a “Clearness Committee” that they use to discern the will of God. A clearness committee is a group of Friends appointed to help a member of the meeting find clarity around a leading.

Recently I sat with a friend and, together, we leaned towards heaven to hear the voice of God. It was a sacred moment that lingered with me for hours after we parted company. The aroma of our conversation is present and pleasant even today. I have reflected and pondered our conversation, his questions, his insights, and, surprisingly, my own words that would not have been uttered without the presence of my friend.

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

Meet Jesus in the midst of fellowship. For one does not simply walk into Mordor…with out a friend.