What Christians can learn from the women joining secret clubbing WhatsApp groups

I don’t have a new years’ resolution per se but if I did, it would be to do more things in person. I saw a post on Instagram that said: “15 years ago, the internet was an escape from the real world, now the real world is an escape from the internet”. So much of my work life, social life and even spiritual life is online that I’m afraid I’m missing out on real connection, laughter and fun.

Now I discover that I am not alone in craving real life activities. Vogue reported on secret WhatsApp groups where people (predominantly women) congregate to meet up and hit the clubs. This isn’t an established friendship group – these are gaggles of strangers unified in their desire to leave their house, get off their phones and dance.

READ MORE: There’s now a Christian nightclub with no secular music or alcohol… and it absolutely POPS off

This shouldn’t be so counter cultural but in an age of convenience and comfy clothes, fewer of us are willing to make the effort. And these women are pushing back. Many of them felt compelled to join the group as their friends took up other pursuits and became less interested in dancing the night away. Some had children and entered a new, distinctly un-nightclub-friendly era, while others just wanted to stay on the sofa.

I applaud these women who are so committed to a heavy bassline and a sticky dancefloor that, without companions available, sought out a new like-minded group. 

I applaud these women who are so committed to a heavy bassline and a sticky dancefloor that, without companions available, sought out a new like-minded group. In many ways, as we get older, we can complacently allow our worlds to get smaller. Our energy levels can drop and our friendship groups shrink as people move away or change churches or have more babies.

READ MORE: ‘Why I am excited about Jesus being worshipped at raves’

But the people I admire most are those who keep reaching forward. Those who wear bright clothes, pray boldly and introduce themselves to the new people at church. The ones who actively practise hospitality and invite new people into their homes and lives. The people who make an effort, who want to continue to squeeze the goodness out of each moment. Those who are grateful and present and whose ‘yes’ is their ‘yes’ and ‘no’ is their ‘no’.

READ MORE: The Holy Spirit warned me when my drink was spiked

A preacher I was listening to recently described John 10:10 as the verse of our generation: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” 

A preacher I was listening to recently described John 10:10 as the verse of our generation: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” We all talk about having life to the full, craving great experiences and filling our time well. But in reality, so much of our lives are insular and tangled up in our online worlds.

I wonder if we, as Christians, could learn something from these women? They’re willing to take risks and to push through the potential awkwardness of new relationships, all to have a joy-filled shared experience. Maybe they’ve grasped something many of us have forgotten: showing up in person is worth it. It’s where we make friends that last a lifetime, where we laugh so loud our stomachs hurt and maybe even where we get to dance the night away.

That’s what I’m focusing on this year. Because no good story started with: “Remember that night we all sat on our sofas looking at our phones?”