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Like most of you, my neighborhood got a little snow and a whole lot of ice Sunday, Jan. 25. I fought it at first. I trudged out into the extreme cold to clear our sidewalks and driveway. I was doing my best to battle the ice that was still coming down.
After working for about 30 minutes, I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of our 10-year-old neighbor, Ian, walking over with his snow shovel. Ian stayed and helped me until the mission was complete — for the moment. Of course, I needed to do it again later.
I asked Ian if he wanted me to pay him in cash or in cookies. My wife, Jeanne, is famous on Fallsworth Drive. She could be elected mayor of our neighborhood — certainly by the children — because of all the cookies she has baked for them.
After thinking about it for just a moment, Ian replied, “You don’t have to pay me anything, Mr. Randy.”
I later sent Ian’s mom and dad a text telling them, “Ian was a tremendous help! And it was good to have his company.”
And it really was good to have Ian there on that cold afternoon helping me break up and shovel away all that snow and ice. I did not have to do it alone. Ian’s company reminded me of one of the great biblical truths.
The Lord promises throughout Scripture that we don’t have to take one step alone or in isolation. From Genesis to Revelation, He is present. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. One of the most glorious names of all the glorious names ascribed to Jesus is “Immanuel, God with us!”
Even in assigning us the great task of the Great Commission, He promised His presence: “Lo, I am with you even to the end of the age.” And Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 emphasizes the wisdom of the practical benefits of companionship, mutual support, and shared strength against life’s challenges in telling us that “two are better than one.”
I have found, however, that one of the biggest problems facing pastors and ministry leaders is isolation and loneliness. Too often they go it alone.
Research affirms my own observations. The Barna Group produced a resource entitled “The Relationships of Today’s Pastors.” In it, the statement is made that “Relational health is not a luxury for pastors, it is a necessity… A thriving church starts with a flourishing leader. And a flourishing leader is someone who knows how to lead from a place of wholeness, not depletion.”
Randy Davis
One of the damaging factors to the overall health of pastors is them not working hard enough to avoid isolation. Is it pride? Ego? Or simply not being equipped to avoid the Lone Ranger Syndrome? I don’t know, but I do know it unnecessarily adds to the weight of ministry leadership.
God designed us for community. That’s ekklesia, the called-out ones grouped together as the church in Christ to do life together. And how about koinonia? It appears 19 times in the New Testament and is translated “fellowship, community, communion, sharing, joint participation.” The Randy C. Davis Version, or the RCDV, translates that as “showing up.”
The Bible gives us a clear word of wisdom when it comes to breaking the chains of loneliness: “A man who has friends must show himself to be friendly” (Proverbs 18:24). So, show up. Engage others. Make friends. Be a friend. Your own mental, emotional and spiritual health will benefit in the process, and together with others it will advance the gospel.
I was glad when my 10-year-old neighbor showed up on that cold day to help with that challenging task. And like me, someone will be glad you showed up to walk through life with them.
Ian? He made a wise choice. He took the cookies.
It is joy to be with you on this journey. B&R
