Sister2Sister from Celeste
Greetings dear sister,
I have just flown in from Norfolk, VA where I was visiting my little sister, my only sibling. Although I brought my Bible, perhaps I should have also taken my laptop so I wouldn't be frantically typing hours before the deadline, but truthfully, I didn’t want to have to lug too much through the airport. (although I suspect that my Bible might weigh more than my Chromebook)
Nevertheless, I’m telling you all that in case you might find this letter a little lighter, like my luggage, in content!
I used to drive to visit my sister, but it just got to be too long and lonesome. Taking a train, or worse, a bus, would cost too much of my limited time, so I started looking into air fares. I’ve found some really good deals and have been excited about the idea of arriving in 3 hours of being a passenger instead of 12 or 13 driving by myself. (lots of bathroom breaks)
Imagine my surprise when I found that I had the plane all to myself! Nearly every time! Oh yes, the boarding lines were long, deplaning even longer, but it seemed that I was all alone. Everywhere I looked there were people, but their phones and their noise canceling earphones sent a clear message: “Don’t bother me”. Sometimes we’ve been packed like sardines in a tuna can and yet the person on either side of me (yes, I’ve been the pickle-in-the-middle) never even acknowledged my presence. Perhaps they were annoyed with me for choosing to sit between them, but they were the skinniest people on board! You learn to watch for such opportunities.
This time, on my flight to Virginia, I found an open window seat and I invited the pickle-in-the-middle woman beside me to use the arm rest because she needed some elbow room. Sitting inches from her, my only regret was that I didn’t witness to her about the love of God, but she seemed a little scared of my already peculiar behavior.
It was on that ride that I began to wonder, when did we become so disconnected from each other? An invitation to conversation seems to be an intrusion of personal space these days. People seem enamored of their one-way communication with talking heads on a tiny screen.
Thank God that His church isn’t like that! Or, at least, she isn’t supposed to be! God wants us to love each other through prayer, encouragement, song, and by talking to each other! God’s love for us and our love for Him makes it a lot easier to connect with each other because we have so much in common! The root of our faith looks the same, but the fruit of that root is a unique creation!
For example, every redemptive story, though unique to each person, follows the same outline. Each of our personal stories goes something like this:
“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore. Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more; but the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I!“ *
The words ring true because they describe what each believer experiences, although their experience is their very own!
That’s one reason why our own testimony is so powerful! We are each a unique creation of God! The unique details of our stories illuminate the limitless creativity and majesty of our God! The more testimonies you hear, the more your faith in God grows! Doesn’t it thrill your heart when you hear of the wonders God has done in someone? It thrills you because you are connected! You are connected to the ultimate source of love! The more connections we make, the deeper the roots go and the stronger the bond becomes!
So, my sister, I encourage you to share what God is doing in your life, even if you think it is too little to share! If God has answered a little prayer of yours, He must have thought it important enough to pay attention to it! Connect with someone today! (like me, maybe)
May the Lord give you courage & opportunity to share how He’s blessed you today!
With love, your sister, Celeste
* Love Lifted Me ~ James Rowe & Howard E Smith 1912