Friendship and Calling

Tonight we gathered at a German restaurant down the street, Cafe Berlin. We sat outside on their patio, shielded by bushes, sun umbrellas, and the humming of conversation. We gathered for a monthly meeting, but soon the participants changed, some went home, and some joined from neighboring restaurant patois. Our discussion changed as well.

We started out talking about social justice and the role of government vs. the role of church in eradicating poverty and drug abuse, etc. We then discussed the role of the Gospel in our lives, in the lives of those around us. Questions were asked, "how would you explain the Gospel?" Many subjects were brought up and milled over...Calvinism, which led to depravity, which led to predestination. "Are you a Calvinist?"

Some left, but we stayed, captivated by the conversation and by the sun slowly drifting out of view. Our conversation turned to confession, being honest with God and those around us. Is it better to involve a third person, to confess solely to God? Are we to have relationships with others, people who we can worship with, confess to, and count on? How do we find people we can trust in today's world? Or rather, in DC, where people are always moving away...No one is from here and no one stays here?

Do men crave these kind of relationships more than women? Is it harder for men to find these kind of relationships than women? Our conversation ended with one of us asking, "When was the last time you heard a sermon about relationships?" All of us answered never.

It made me think....If we had more relationships in society in which we held each other accountable (Real relationships,where we were honest,completely honest. Relationships in which we did not feel like we were being judged), then more often, we would be challenged by each other...We would also be challenged by the Gospel...And the Gospel preaches to care for the poor..Therefore, does the answer to eradicating poverty lie in cultivating personal relationships? Not the only answer, but part of it?

These conversations are rare and lovely. We opened up to each other and I found myself being blatantly honest about my views, my opinions, and my desires. We all did. A married couple and two Washington singles ten years plus older, sitting on the patio of a German bistro, drinking Heifewiezen, and dealing with the issues of our time.