Surrounded and Immersed

Last month I had the privilege of taking a cruise on the Seine River from Paris to Normandy. For twelve days I was immersed in a different culture, surrounded by history, and listening to conversations in a different language. Everywhere I turned, delicious food and aromas tempted my palate.

I had taken French in high school and college so some expressions were familiar. The more I heard the language, albeit at a rate that exceeded 200 words per minute, I understood. I was amazed at what my brain had stored for fifty plus years. I could read street signs and loved listening to the cadence of the language. A college friend, a Spanish major, spent a summer in Spain for that reason- to be immersed in the culture and have the Spanish language become as automatic as English. I thought that if I had stayed a month, I would be speaking French.

“You are what you eat.” Oh yes, I gained weight on that trip. With three delicious meals, pastries, croissants,  crepes, and made to order pasta and omelets, I became what I ate. The numbers on my bathroom scales attested to that when I returned home.

Early Christians tasted too. They knew the significance of surroundings and immersion.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NIV).

• They were immersed in God’s Word and craved knowing God in deeper ways, and to have instruction for daily living.
• They associated with God’s people for care and companionship.
• They ate together for physical and relational nourishment.
• They sought to meet with God in prayer for worship, confession, and guidance.

• We can carve out time to read and study God’s Word.
• We can fellowship with others, not only in friendship but to meet needs such as in illness, grief, or life stresses.
• We can meet others for a meal or coffee together for enrichment and encouragement.
• We can put away distractions and devote time to pray, thanking God for who He is, interceding for others, and asking for our personal “daily bread.”

Looking for ideas?

Since January friends and I have been immersed in reading the Bible in a year. The Bible Re-cap schedule has taken us through nine books of the Bible and we have met God in profound ways. Last week over lunch we shared what we were learning. To say that conversation was encouraging as we shared our hearts is an understatement.

My friend Lori Hatcher has written several books on Refreshing Your Faith and Your Prayer Life, if you’d like to add to your devotional reading.

And if you want to invite friends to your table, Jeannie Waters’ book, A Place at His Table, God’s Daily Gifts to Satisfy Your Heart, offers inspirational ideas.

How have you chosen your surroundings and what are you immersed in today? Have you seen positive or negative outcomes?