We all need companionship in our lives. Without some experience of companionship our lives can become lonely and sad. When John Donne said that no man is an island unto himself he was giving expression to the need human beings have to be in relationship. Of course companionship is much more than being social. It is the experience of mutual presence. It is a space where our capacity for life is nourished by others. It creates the possibility of becoming intimate with someone. This is why the type of relationship we call companionship is one of the most beautiful gifts we can give to each other.
There are different descriptions of what companionship actually is. One model is what two people experienced as they travelled from Jerusalem to Emmaus after the death of Jesus. On their journey they were joined by an apparent stranger who walked with them. Their relationship with the stranger began with the experience of mutual acceptance and ended with a shared meal. On the road there was attentive listening and soulful conversation.
This is a good example of what we might call Christian companionship. Christian companionship has four aspects. It begins with an attitude of acceptance that is inclusive and that transcends race, colour, religion, class and sexual orientation. It offers people a listening hear and an opportunity to tell their story. It allows soulful conversation to develop, the kind of conversation that gives expression to the things that truly matter. And it includes the experience of a shared meal, which is sometimes referred to as table fellowship. In fact the word companion comes from two Latin words ‘cum’ and ‘panis’ which literally mean ‘with bread.’
When we experience companionship in this way we find that the longing within us is satisfied. The experience of Christian companionship can be the key to unlock our hearts. It can also open up the teaching of Jesus allowing us to find meaning and life in the Gospel. It is no wonder that the two people who were accompanied by Jesus on their journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus found themselves saying, “did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us” (Luke 24:32).