“As I have mentioned before,” Stan began, when I was first beginning a more serious walk with God, I regularly spent time with a friend who was my spiritual mentor.”
“Since we moved here,” he continued, “I have not seen him face-to-face very often.”
“Miss him?” I asked.
“Oh, yes,” Stan replied. “I miss seeing him, but he is real good about staying in touch.”
“That’s nice,” I responded. “The sign of a real friend.”
“Even more than that,” Stan said, “he sees it as something God expects him to do in the furtherance of his spiritual mentoring ministry. And I have followed his example.”
“How so?” I asked.
“This fellow sees that it is important to check in on me to see how I am doing in my spiritual walk with God. He wants to know how I am doing and if there is anything he can do to help.”
Continuing, Stan said, “I do the same thing with two different guys I used to get together with just as you and I do. They both moved away, but I am in regular contact with them to see how they are doing in their growing relationship with God.”
“And you see this as something you are supposed to do?” I asked.
“Clearly,” Stan replied. “I see that in something the apostle Paul wrote about to the church in Colossae.”
“What?” I asked.
“He wrote that, even though he was absent from them, he was with them in spirit. I see that as an example for me. Even though I am away from the people who either mentored me, or away from people I have mentored, I am to be with them in spirit.”
“And,” Stan continued, “I view my obligation of staying in touch to include not just those who are far away. I am to check with others to see how they are doing spiritually whether they are across the state, the country, the world, or the street. Even across the table.”
“I am to stay in touch. Anyone you should be in touch with?”
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For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Colossians 2:5.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the people you have brought into my life who have helped me in drawing ever closer to you and in being strengthened in my relationship with you. I confess that too often I do not do all I can to help others in the same way. Please forgive me. And please help me by leading me in exact accord with your will in reaching out to and in staying in contact with those you bring before me to help. Please lead and help me to follow your lead in whatever you have for me to do in helping others grow ever closer to you. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Waiting for the Train 