A Day Well Spent - Reflections From A Day Together
Last Saturday morning one of our Lectio365 readings called us to ‘encourage each other and build each other up’ (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and that theme was at the heart of our time at A Day Together hosted by Lansdowne Church for couples.
The publicity told us to expect ‘a special time away to listen, laugh and learn more about each other . . . to talk and reconnect, whatever stage of life we are in’. We would have ‘a relationship “health check”’, a chance to be ‘inspired and equipped to strengthen and grow your relationship with a renewed sense of purpose and hope’. And that’s exactly how it turned out to be.
Three couples from contrasting backgrounds led us through the day. They spoke honestly and often humorously about their marriage experiences, their joys and their struggles. We were constantly pointed to Bible principles for relationships and life together. Between these presentations, individually and as couples we worked through a very attractively presented study book which prompted us to share just as honestly about our own relationship. It was a ‘cringe-free’ day, as we were promised. There was no sharing in groups; this was all about personal, private conversations, so each couple sat at a separate table in the main auditorium, with a chance to find somewhere quiet and isolated elsewhere in the building if that would be helpful. It was a relaxed and unthreatening environment.
The day simply and exactly lived up to its title – a time together as couples. The programme was busy but not too intense, and the presenters kept it moving and on schedule. Coffee and tea were never far away, and we enjoyed a superb lunch, so there was time to chat with others if we wished.
We greatly enjoyed the day; it was a time to thank God for his goodness to us in our life together, and to plan some actions for the future. Others have made very positive comments too: “We had a wonderful day on Saturday and found it very helpful.” “I came to the event because my wife wanted me to, but I'm so glad I did.” One person particularly appreciated the presenters’ openness about their own struggles – ‘real’ people talking about real-life experiences. Simply the togetherness of the day was a blessing for some, like the lady overheard telling a friend, “I had five hours talking to my husband yesterday and it was wonderful!” And someone, in their feedback form, said their ‘action point’ was to ‘speak to somebody about giving my life to the Lord’.
In these and many other ways this truly was, as someone else said, ‘a day well spent’. Great thanks to God for all his goodness.
- Alan and Lois Hunt
Want to know more about A Day Together? Why not talk to Mark or Leonie Lane, or visit adaytogether.org