Companionship

There is a spiritual discipline that has gotten lost in our culture recently. This in spite of all the gadgets that supposedly "enhance" communication. The discipline of companionship isn't a very popular one because most don't understand it and haven't experienced it. The Christian faith makes frequent uses of metaphors like a walk, a journey, a pilgrimage. It does so with good reason. Once a person begins their life in Christ it is a constant progression toward Christ, with the purpose of being conformed to Christ.

All this to say walks are better when there is someone to share them with, to keep a person company. Companionship is the art of learning to walk together down the same path. Sometimes both partners are in new territory and they figure it out as they go along. Sometimes one has been in this place before so they can point out wrong turns that most would think are short-cuts. The reality is that there are some points along the journey that absolutely require two people to get through. Someone will need a boost to climb something, or a hand to reach down and pull them up. In companionship both people have to walk their own path, but they do so knowing they have someone to laugh with, to share their fears and concerns with, to rejoice when they've had success, someone to support them when they just can't go on right now.

Companionship sounds like a great idea, so why aren't more people companioning? There are many reasons, but the number one is because it requires time and energy and commitment. Most of the growth for a Christian (at least in my experience) takes weeks, if not months or years before it is sustainable. This means that two people have to be willing to companion over an extended period of time. It also requires vulnerability. Agreeing to be companions is an admission that I can't do this on my own and I'd like someone to come with me. Often journeying together means going at the slower pace. And it requires a willingness to see each other through this portion of the journey and not abandon when it gets difficult.

Many think that companionship has to be a life-time commitment to someone. It doesn't (unless they are married). Most of the time it is actually just for a season or so, because as we grow our individual paths take us in different directions where it is likely that we will encounter other opportunities for companionship.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help."

Full Circle

Two years ago I packed up most of my belongings from my home in San Antonio and drove to Wilmore, Kentucky - a city so small it wasn't on the map I had with me. I unloaded my car into a room I shared with a complete stranger and the next day began New Student Orientation (Disorientation). I knew no one up here, I didn't even know where the Walmart or the nearest fast food place was (15 minutes away in another city). After two days of non-stop informational sessions and meeting all the other new students I hit my overload threshold. On one of our 15 minute breaks, while most students ran to the bookstore, I ran to Estes chapel. It was the only safe place I knew on campus, my room wasn't a sanctuary yet. I figured if I was praying at the altar people would probably leave me alone. Thank God they did. I prayed to God out of desperation, I was ready to pack everything up and move back home. Yet I knew He had called me here, at this time. So I stayed.

Fast-forward two years to the day later. I'm half-way done with my M.Div. I'm a certified candidate for Elder in the UMC. I'm on the team that designs our chapel services. I'm well established on this campus. This Thursday was New Student Orientation and as part of my responsibilities I was asked to read the Scripture for Dr. Kalas. We place those leading worship on the platform where the pulpit/lectern is. I asked JD (dean of chapel) which chair he wanted me in. Halfway through the service I realized the blessed irony of where I was. I was at the exact same spot that I was two years ago. But this time instead of in panicked prayer at the altar I was sitting comfortably on the platform, preparing to read the Word of God to our new students.

I almost laughed at God's faithfulness. Two years ago I never would have believed I would be doing that. Yet God knew what He was doing. He's the one who called me into the ministry, to Asbury to be prepared for that ministry, and now I'm participating in ministry. He held me steady when I was ready to run back to the safety of "home" (it helps when you've burned every bridge behind you) and He's walked faithfully beside me the whole time I've been here. The final hymn we sang on Thursday was "Great is His Faithfulness" and it is so true. God is faithful to all who call upon His Name.