Crossroads Celebration Church

No he didn’t die. Nor did he move away. Actually I don’t know what happened to him. He was the best student in class. He was on time, every time. He got perfect scores on every quiz and there were plenty of those. Last week he was absent. I thought he was just sick, several others were missing due to illness. But today his name was off the roster of students.
I was impressed with this young man and I wanted to get to know him more. He wasn’t going to be a project of “are you saved” kind of stuff. I just wanted to be friendly!

It’s been that kind of year for me. Losing friends. Major changes in my life this year for spiritual reasons have really tested my friendships. I found out some who I thought were friends, have failed me. But then there have been those who have stuck by me in some of the toughest of times. Sounds like God purifying us and getting rid of the dross, like refining gold or silver. And then there have been the opportunities to develop new friends.

I believe this year has reminded me of the 99 and one principle. Jesus told a parable in Luke about one lost sheep and how there were 99 others. He left the 99 just to go find the one. It’s that important. The Free Methodist church which I joined this year in my spiritual turmoil has as their theme for the next four years, “One More Soul”. We may have 99 friends, but there is always one, that is special and needs to be brought back home.

Today I contacted two friends that I have missed, this student and another friend. Yes, they are that important to me. I know we cannot control peoples lives and sometimes separation might be the best for everyone, but sometimes you just have to make sure it’s time to part. Maybe there were hurts that were felt or needs unmet, so one has to dare to risk and make the effort for the ONE!

Standing at the Crossroads of friends and decisions and life,
Mark