Life Group is really about wearing tacky Christmas sweaters.

Yeah, I know you hear the “Doing life together” and “Go. Do.” catchphrases every week—all marketing slogans done by that guy who wrote “You Deserve a Break Today.” He retired and you can get him at a steal; much cheaper than the “Honey Comb’s big. Yeah, yeah, yeah! It’s not small. No, no, no!” guy. No, it’s all about reindeer and snowflakes and a sea of red and green plaid.

For me to put on a woman’s Christmas sweater (You’d think you can find men’s tacky Christmas sweaters at a thrift store. You’d be wrong.) and pose in front of a Christmas tree tells you all you need to know, outside that shoulder pads do not belong in a sweater.

The Christmas sweaters mean:

• Politician laughs, forced smiles, and squeaky clean behavior are gone by your fourth meeting, and you still meet anyway.
• Knowing where the forks are, how to make “exotic lime water,” and that I like my coffee black after dinner.
• Sharing honestly during Bible study, and perhaps-maybe-kinda giggling a little at the lady’s necklace in the Ephesians video (It has giraffes. Go check it out. I’ll wait. Heck, read Ephesians while you’re at it, but don’t miss the giraffe necklace. I think there’s a rule against that in Leviticus to prevent mayhem at LIFE Group meetings).
• Enjoying a week at Creation Festival together where the highlight remains the boy who put the noodle up his nose and pulled it out his mouth, (We have video. It’s pure awesome. Just ask Liz and Missy.) or that little matter of me surrendering fully to God and being moved by the Holy Spirit like never before, all thanks to Mike and Eleanor making sure I could go no matter what.
• Welcoming a new member Heather by calling her the New Girl, or NG for short and her fitting right in.
• Knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and encouraging one another (and busting on one another of course).
• Knowing when the little one has to use the bathroom by his special dance down the hallway. (No, not Mike.)
• Making sure what you post on Facebook will be acceptable to your group members. (Slayer videos might be touchy. I was as shocked as you are.)

It’s all about Christmas sweaters, because those sweaters show friendship, familiarity, loving God, sharing His word together, being brothers and sisters in Christ, and sharing in a meaningful first year together that has had more positive influence on me than I can express.

So don’t believe the marketing hype “LIFE Group: It’s LIFE-TASTIC!”. Instead, experience it all first hand. I have a sweater if you need one.

Picture caption: Have yourself a very LIFE Group Christmas. From left, Mike and Eleanor Dunham, Elisabeth Seibert, Melissa Davis, and Heather Peterson. Laying in front is Matthew Solovey.

If you are interested in being in a LIFE Group, check out the next LIFE Group Link coming in January.