“There are times we get so busy doing things for God, that we neglect our own primary and personal relationship with Him. I know. Because it happens to me a lot.” -Chaplain James Fry of Mean Street Ministries.
James comment was prompted by our young son, David’s question, “Why serve God?” It was troubling for us as parents to hear our 17 year old voice this question with its’ adult overtones of doubt. And yet, meeting David where he was at, James replied that serving God was born out of a close, personal relationship with Him. We heaved a sigh of relief at the table. As a ‘man of God’ James was pointing our son on a path we find ourselves on as believers from a ‘different’ culture and socio-political background.
Abraham was alone, when he was called. The herd mind set, that is culturally so popular in America, can tend to rob the individual of his or her faith. Exactly the opposite of what we wish to see happen in our youth. Faith to be real needs to be personal.
“I keep an eye out for my Ministers as well.” James told us. “There are times when certain individuals need to take time off from the Ministry and doing things for God to being with God.”
Again, we heaved a sigh of relief.
Henri J.M. Nouwen, in his book, “The Way of The Heart” speaks of how men and women in Christian ministry become so involved with “doing” that they miss opportunities to “be” and fail to see how “being” with family and friends can be rejuvenating and reviving of the life of the spirit. My family and I have needed to withdraw sometimes, just to be able to face God with our unique and particular struggle as immigrants and believers.
I had been working Sundays, hence unable to show up at church. Churchgoers naturally concerned missed our presence. Perhaps some imagined that our marriage, spiritual life or relationship with God has gone bust. All very valid concerns given that we are exhorted not to forsake the fellowship of believers. All also horrid possibilities given the nature of sin, temptation, evil (and deportation/immigration law), so yes, keep taking my spiritual temperature but don’t forget your own.
The church, I am learning, exists as a community of intelligent followers of Christ with prayer as it’s backbone and blood. While we worship as a body, equally precious is the time spent alone behind closed doors pouring our hearts out to God. Also precious are those private, personal, and godly conversations and silences that occur among the believers that never get talked or written about.
The temptation to resist then is the need to satisfy those who require us to be present and seen to be doing things for God. The God, I am coming to know as the living Christian God is one who shepards me. I need not all the time busy myself doing things for Him. Just sitting in His presence, in utter silence is worship. Some days, when our hearts are heavy, and a tear runs down the face, the hand that wipes it away or watches it flow down the cheek in silence is Jesus. Then, as we turn the pages of His heart, reading His written word, He says “weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.”
-Anushka Anastasia Solomon, the published poet who blogs for Mean Street Ministry as time permits. This blog is written to share lessons learned in conversation with Chaplain James Fry and family one beautiful Sunday afternoon at our Evergreen home.
