what a privilege

I had the opportunity to spend the past weekend with some of the people who know me best - some who I met 14 years ago when we started our freshman year at Wheaton and some who I lived & worked with for 5 years at Taylor. As I returned home on Sunday night, I was struck by how incredibly rich my life is because of these amazing women & men that God has given me friendships with - it is overwhelming when I think of the ways in which these friends have walked with & supported & challenged & encouraged me over the years. I was reminded of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's words in his excellent book Life Together:

"Therefore, let him who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians praise God's grace from the bottom of his heart. Let him thank God on his knees and declare: It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren."

So today I am one who is thankful to the Lord for these incredible means of grace that He has placed in my life. Thank you, dear friends, for living life with me!