Walk Beside Me and Be My friend

[Erin Daubert]

I packed up all my bags. My cubicle no longer held artwork from Chile, the U.N. peace flag, pictures of friends, drawings from my four-year old neighbor Matthew, or miscellaneous thank you cards from friends and coworkers. It looked lonely and bare, a hollow shell of the place I used to work. It was hard to believe my internship was already over.

As I headed out after the 12 hour work day, I realized I had become so busy with work and projects the past week trying to finish everything up that I had hardly said goodbye to many of the other interns. I had grown so close to these wonderful people and I hadn’t even made the time to stop by their offices and give them hugs or wish them well on their future endeavors. I knew on that last trip home from the office that I had missed out on a wonderful opportunity. After all my accomplishments at the internship, I still let people down- I didn’t even say goodbye.

After arriving home, I took my dog on a walk. As someone who is too busy, walking the streets of my familiar neighborhood is sometimes the only opportunity I have to reflect, some of my only “me” time.
On my walk, I passed by a familiar home, but saw an unfamiliar face. “Hello!” I said. “Good afternoon,” a petite woman with a sweet face framed by white hair said back. “It’s a beautiful day out,” I continued. “Yes,” she responded. However, instead of ending our short relationship there, she began to tell me of how she and her husband had just moved in with her son because of health issues. She was from Virginia and was grateful that her son was so willing to take care of them. I couldn’t believe it, this sweet woman had been living in my area for more than a month and I hadn’t even met her yet.

This reminded me of a quote in a book I am currently reading. The book “The Rise of Christianity” by Rodney Stark is a historical and sociological piece written on the debatable topic of how and why the obscure and marginal Jesus movement became such a dominant religious force in the western world in only a few centuries. After Stark’s research and experience, he found that “typically people do not seek a faith, they encounter one through their ties to other people who already accept this faith” (page 56).

I can wear shirts with Biblical verses in a crowded mall, go door knocking in my local neighborhood, and work in a church office all I want. However, I can’t truly share my faith with others unless I have a solid relationship with someone. I need to take the time to be a friend and walk with someone to find opportunities to show them God.

There are amazing stories of people who miraculously see God’s love under unusual circumstances. But the best way to minister is to look at the relationships I already have. I can’t keep passing up my neighbors. I can’t forget to time to say goodbye to my coworkers on our last day. Instead, God is calling me to take some time and spend it with the people I am already close to. I need to relax and find the time to enjoy the people God has already blessed me with knowing.

A quote to inspire me:
"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
Walk beside me and be my friend."
-Maimonidies

[Craig Talmage]

Erin as a fellow intern who didn't get to say goodbye to everyone because I only was in the office Friday for 30 minutes, I want to say I feel ya. It's hard to think about not saying goodbye to everyone. There were so many things I wanted to say or do before leaving. But I don't think I let the others down as much as myself.

Perhaps we put too much emphasis on goodbyes. I always preferred to say, "See ya later." I'm just happy that we have thing like facebook, cell phones, email, and now imagine yourself to stay connected. This world's too small for goodbyes.

So Erin, since I didn't get to say it in Chicago..."See ya later." You were truly a great friend to me and always made me laugh. I'll never forget our hilarious and crazy experiences on the 7th floor.