President Bush took the oath of office for a second term. What an incredible responsibility! What is it like to have a job like that? What is it like to have millions of people believe that you can do no wrong? What is it like to have many, many people believe that you can do nothing right? I don’t know. I suspect, however, that being President can be very lonely work.
I have learned that there is nothing more precious than to have a friend. To have someone who is a part of your life who you feel cares about you. Such a friend or friends will look different from person to person. Sometimes this friend is in your town or city. Sometimes not. You may spend a lot of time with this friend. Sometimes you may not. This may be a friend at work, in your church, or in your neighborhood. This may be a friend who you have known for many years. This may be a friend who you have known for only a few.
I’ve talked with a lot of ministers through the years. At this point, these people are scattered throughout the U.S. For the most part, these are good people. More often than not, these are hard working, consciousness people who feel called to the kind of ministry that they are doing.
Too often, however, these people feel alone–very alone. It’s not that the people in their churches are not good people. If they are working with an elder group, these may be very good people as well. I have sensed that some of these people (these ministers and their families) feel that no one is really watching out after them. Everyone goes about their business. Furthermore, so often there may be emotional disconnection between them and other church leaders. The bottom line is that they feel alone.
I’m thinking right now about a minister friend who lives in the South. I wonder sometimes if anyone in his church is showing concern over the welfare of him and his wife.
*Is this minister OK financially?
*Is this minister feeling joy in the work?
*Is this minister experiencing enough rest?
It is not just ministers and their families who struggle with loneliness. I think that many others of us do as well. Maybe you know what it is to go for weeks and months without anyone really asking, "How are you–really? Maybe you know what it is to never have anyone really express genuine concern for you as a person. Maybe you know what it is to be a part of a church (maybe a large church) and yet to feel so alone.
*I am so thankful for an older gentleman in our church who regularly asks me how I am doing. It’s real and genuine when he asks.
*I am so thankful for friends who call or e-mail me and ask in sometimes very specific ways how I am doing. I am thankful for a couple of friends who I see at lunch or coffee and how important that is. I take none of that for granted.
*I am so thankful for friends who I see only occasionally–sometimes rarely. A few of these are longtime friends. Very special.
*I am thankful for the encouragment that I have received through the years from people like Ken Dye, Lynn Anderson, Prentice Meador, and John Allen Chalk. I am thankful for special years of friendship with Dan Anders.
I realize more and more how much I value real friends. I am also realize how much the people in my life need for me to be a real friend.