My mobile chirped and I looked at the message alert.
“Give me a call when you have a moment.”
It was an unusual request. Although it was from a good friend that I see several times a month, we rarely reach out to each other between meetings. It is a relationship that has a unique rhythm of its own. It began in a pivotal moment. At the time, he proactively recommended me for a new role. As I wondered about the message, it struck me as odd. Although there is nothing particularly unusual about in receiving a text message, given that he travels a lot and we are both busy, my curiosity was peaked.
“Sure.”
Within seconds my mobile was ringing.
As we talked I was stunned. Although I had been through a stressful situation with a few mutual friends, I had no idea that he was aware of the situation or its impact on me. As we talked I found myself embraced, healed, and refilled with hope. It was an amazing five minutes! I sat in silent stillness when we were done, thinking through the larger story. I found myself challenged to follow his example.
Standing with another is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. The value, to both parties, increases dramatically when it is proactive and without any anticipation of a reward. In this case, unintended (and positive) outcomes followed.
Everyone can use a defender, especially when you do not realize you need one! I thought I was over the situation. His action healed what I did realize needed to be healed. It is a variation on a model that has repeated itself across the generations, just like the scene the psalmist described long ago; “Fed up, God decided to get rid of them – and except for Moses, his chosen, he would have. But Moses stood in the gap and deflected God’s anger, prevented it from destroying them utterly.” (Psalm 106.23)
Each time we stand together, trust grows. There was and is more to come, for both of us.
