The Traveler

  Just how fast can an idea or news spread around the world these days? It's amazing to know that someone in Africa, Asia, the United Kingdom, South America and here in my home city, can all be affected by the news and events that are reported on live TV and online reporting. Good news and bad news, they all have a light speed conduit to the people of the world. It's surprising to me to see how many people are connected to each other via the worldwide web. There are televangelists with global capabilities and followings, news channels showing the latest crazy act of violence,sporting events that draw viewers by the millions, and yet the biggest paradigm shift in this world occurred when one man and 12 followers took it upon themselves to spread the message of love and acceptance. You may think that you're just one person in a vast world of information highways and currents events; that your actions won't have a significant impact on people, or change the course of anything with historical importance. You may not be famous or a dignitary, and yet it's easy to forget that the writings or ideas of one person, or the public failure of another, can make headlines worldwide. If it's that easy to impact an audience that's across the continents why is it so hard to spread the good news of the gospel? Do our argumentative and different opinions of what Jesus came here to do keep us from spreading the result of what he really accomplished while he was here?

  Growing up in church, one of the big events that would happen on occasion would be when an evangelist would come to town. They would put on a four or five day church meeting that some people call, camp meetings or revivals. It was kind of an exciting time. You could enjoy hearing a speaker that you really didn't know personally and he or she could get away with saying some things that your regular pastor could not. In today's world of being politically correct, it seems that this entire way of life may be gone forever. No one wants to hurt another's feelings anymore. Regardless of the dangers that our friends and family face due to poor decisions or hazardous lifestyles; no one wants to tell each other that they've been wrong or that they are living in a world of lies and selfishness. A world where the 'new' reality is what you make for yourself. Nothing could go wrong with that idea, right? In the case of the evangelist, it gave them a chance to speak on or about subjects that were sensitive within the regular crowd. They were able to speak to subjects too close to home for the local pastor. Sometimes known as the 'Fire and Brimstone' preachers, they did have a knack for shaking up the regular crowd and making them think about the words that they heard every week.

  I know that occasionally, in my fast moving and over scheduled life, I need to come to a point of reality realism. I need that abrupt stop, look, and listen that going into crisis mode puts us through.  I need to be reminded that, "I'm not all that". That pride and selfishness is a perpetual circle of disappointment. Even with a high self image, some days we also need to be reminded that we are more than we think we are. It's possible that you know the feeling of these emotions when they come over you saying, you're not good enough, or maybe you have feelings that tell you that you're better than everyone else. No matter which direction that you come from when you experience this personally convicting intersection, you need that reality check, you need advice from a person that maybe doesn't know you like a family or friend does. The person who intersects with our life in a way that shows respect, while earning trust. I hope you have a person like this in your life. If not now, then somewhere in you're past. Perhaps at youth camp, there was a special speaker that seemingly created every topic and message like they knew all about you, or a song on the radio that described your emotions or situation almost as if the writer understood right where you were.

  Part of God's message through the cross was to reach out to us in a way that would present the message of grace openly to everyone; not just for the salvation of the Jews, but everyone else as well. Eventually, left without their leader to guide them, the Apostles and the growing number of followers needed a link to God. A part of God that could be with them here on earth, in the solitude of prison and in the pressing of massive crowds, the presence of God was needed and present there. It taught them to seek God in healing and in worship. In the simple sharing of the message, and the desperation of extreme and violent torture, the Traveler was there. The person-hood of God, the very Spirit of His love and nature went with them, experienced  loneliness with them, spoke the thoughts of praise into their minds and hearts. Like time itself, the Traveling Spirit of God, finds a winding path through our lives. It connects with us through guest speakers, a song on the radio, Sunday school teachers, and well timed events in our lives that always seem to be perfectly aligned for the outcome that we couldn't predict. The Traveler knows when you close your eyes to pray, "God, this is my last chance". You may be young and full of wonder about what your life has yet to offer or maturing to that point where you think more about mortality and the next life, either one can be quickly drawn to the reality of needing God. A need of such desperation that your options are limited to one choice. In your searching for truth and peace, the Traveler sent from God knows no boundary. No situation is too serious. No illness beyond comfort.

  The 12 followers that Jesus called His closest friends, the ones that He laughed, loved and lived with, were all put into situations where they needed the guidance, comfort and peace that they had known in their friend Jesus. They found those things in the presence of the Traveler. If we never experienced sadness and need, we might never find the ability to appreciate happiness and favor. The 12 definitely experienced the full range of happiness and excitement, as well as sadness, fear, and despair. Though I am certain that they felt inadequate, worthless, and ashamed, they persevered to become full of grace, and outspoken about the message of a God that came here to earth, just for them. Just for you. Time can be our companion in life, when we use it to walk with conviction, and the knowledge that the Traveler is also here for us, to embolden us, to carry us when we are too weak to go on, to weep when we cry, and laugh when we are happy. My wish for you is that you will seek out this ally, whose mission here in our lives is to give us a sense of Godly presence and a personal experience with His majesty, the crowned and reigning philanthropist of grace.