May 2004
The Beautiful Blessing of Christian Fellowship!
We all need one another
The first line of a popular hymn we all love goes "No man can live as an island". In the movie 'Castaway' actor Tom Hanks who is forced to do just this, becomes friends with a volleyball that he names Wilson . He talks to Wilson daily, a means by which he keeps his sanity. He argues, apologizes and even weeps with Wilson .
Christianity is basically a communitarian religion. Jesus' Gospel gives us a call to discipleship which should arise from the heart and be based on the love of God first and foremost and next, a love of neighbor as one loves oneself (Lev. 19:18, Matthew 22:36-38 , Mark 12:29-31, Luke 10:26-28).
Recently I went through a horribly dry spell. I was badly in need of help. The pit I had dug myself into was very deep & try though I did, I could not pull myself out of it. Our loving God however sent two angels into my life.
The first was in the form of my oldest and one of my dearest friends - Janice. Though we always shared an amazing bond, I found myself thinking "I can't go & tell Janice my problems, she's so holy; what will she think of me?" It was only the evil one who was trying his usual tricks of deception.
Praise God, I didn't listen to Satan's voice & found myself pouring my heart out to Janice. She was (as usual) totally non-judgmental. It surprised me to think how I could have even doubted it for one second - so powerful can the evil one's deception be.
Janice in her loving, sweet & soft spoken way guided me back to the truth, prayed with me & packed me off to chapel, to sit in front of Jesus & pray. As I sat in front of His Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, and poured my heart out to Him, all my problems seemed to instantly get alright. It was just as Janice had said, "Remember, there's no sin so great that God won't forgive it" and all burdens were released.
The next day I made sure I made it to chapel. Just as I was going in I heard my name being called out by the other angel - Arthur.
Arthur is a member of our prayer group. He's this Big Massive Guy with a soft soft heart. Art was not always this way though. His testimony includes multiple chemical abuse among many other grave things.
In Arthur I found a willing ear & it was so peaceful to get guided by him. After all he'd been almost everywhere & done almost everything. Janice gave me spiritual direction and Arthur; some very sound worldly advice. I needed a helping hand, God sent me a "helping ARM" (Arthur Rod - Man of God!!).
I found out another lovely thing that day. Unknown to me, for almost a year, many youth from our prayer group would meet every single evening in a small restaurant opposite the church, where they'd hang out over cups of tea & coffee and discuss spiritual things. These meetings had apparently seen the lives of many newcomers being changed, as for many it was a way to keep them out of trouble while for others a place to come & get good sound advice on the many things one goes through in our daily walks.
So much more than just a counseling session, these evening hang outs reminded me of the early Christians that St. Paul wrote about in Thessalonica, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." (1 Thess 2:8)
The Book of Acts records "All the believers were together and had everything in common...Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2: 44-47)
I am very privileged to share this same fellowship today. And while I give thanks to God for Janice & Arthur, perhaps you too may recognize them in someone who's helped you out when you needed it, who's prayed with you or for you, who's "been there" for you. Or perhaps you will be drawn to helping someone else out; by opening your life out to someone who might need you. Someone new or someone old. Someone who you know needs help or just someone to whom the Lord leads you.
I encourage all of you to fellowship with good Christians. To invite them into your homes and into your hearts. They will help you & you will, God willing, help them too. And the Lord will add to our numbers daily too, those who will be saved. Amen.
May 2004
