Yesterday I got back from two days of fishing in the Keys. Yes the sun is bad for me; yes I just visited the dermatologist and had serious work done on many cancerous lesions; yes I should not have exposed my skin to the harsh Keys sun; yes I’m weak; yes the sun is brutal down there; no we didn’t have good fishing; and no I don’t want any letters admonishing me for being a bad boy or making fun of me for not catching many fish.
I picked up Jack, “Murf the Surf”, Murphy at his home in Crystal River on Wednesday and he didn’t stop talking from the time I picked him up until we returned on Saturday. I sent a text to my good friend T.K. Wetherell in Montana and told him about it and he replied, “Did he go down there to talk or fish?”
My terse four letter reply was, “Talk!”
We did have a good time though and it was refreshing to spend so much one on one time with a fellow Christian, (albeit we are both the very salty version of that term). We were riding home on Saturday and decided to take an airboat ride in the Everglades at a Miccosukee Indian village. We zipped through the tall grass waterways in that loud airboat for about a mile and finally ended up at an ancient little Indian village that had been built right out in the middle of the Everglades. We walked around checking it out and when we got back to the boat our Indian guide began talking about the Miccosukee emblem and flag which represents cycles that are present in the Everglades and the earth in general.
Hmmm . . . I thought, “Here we go – Next we’ll be hearing about how the black bears and Florida panthers are this dude’s ancestors and the whole Mother Earth diatribe”. Just as I was getting ready to witness to this guy he began telling us about a man who lived 2000 years ago named Jesus Christ and how He fit into the cycle.
Cool beans!
Turns out this old Indian guide is a born again Christian and he witnesses to anyone who will listen during his airboat tours. We told him that we were involved in the ministry too and thanked him profusely for witnessing to complete strangers and doing God’s work way out in the middle of nowhere. He nearly cried for joy when he discovered that we were fellow Christians. Afterwards he proceeded to give us an airboat ride and tour that was off the beaten trail and involved close encounters of the third kind with alligators of practically every length and birds of every color and description.
Yesterday afternoon I spent some one-on-one time with a close friend whom I hadn’t seen in a while. He seemed discouraged and although this man is a believer and knows the Bible about as well as anyone, I could tell from looking at him that he was not going to church.
I was not surprised when he began telling me that lately he’d been discouraged and had been experiencing some difficulties in his life. He didn’t elaborate and I didn’t pry; however I did admonish him for going into seclusion and withdrawing from all who love him and for turning his back on God and not going to church.
My buddy doesn’t have many friends because he stubbornly refuses to allow anyone to get close to him. I’m not a shrink, but I’d imagine that this stems from being treated shabbily by someone – somehow – somewhere along the way by a purported friend (or church) and not ever letting go of those hang-ups.
I told him that it does us much good to be around other believers; in fact it is all but impossible to survive in this crappy world all alone. We can find salty version friends that are matched up like Murf and me, or perhaps the goody two shoes – Brady Bunch – Leave it to Beaver versions if you are of that flavor, but we all need reinforcements to fight the spiritual battle that we are engaged in.
King Solomon said it best when he described it in Ecclesiastes 4:12 – A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Think about this verse in the context of our being attacked constantly by satan and his demonic horde. We will be defeated if we choose to fight alone. The Bible implores us to put on “the full armor of God” in order to stand against the dark forces that work to destroy us. Part of that armor is fellowship with other believers, (friends).
Murf and I were greatly encouraged after spending three full days together and being fully engaged in our brand of spiritual fellowship which included prayer and discussion of just about every spiritual topic known to man; (and yes among the mix there were a few war stories of our misspent youth thrown out there). Our spirits were lifted even higher when we met that faithful old Indian guide who dares to share his faith with every tourist that stops by for an airboat ride even if a few of them don’t like it.
We need fellowship with other believers! No man – no woman is strong enough to make it on their own. The Bible tells us that in order to have friends, one must be friendly; so start today by being friendly and pick up some friends.
It also tells us to choose our friends wisely, but kindly remember that no one is perfect, so don’t pick apart and point out the imperfections of everyone whom you contact. Jesus said don’t point out a speck of sawdust in your neighbor’s eye when you have a big board in your own.
Instead encourage those around you today. Realize that we ALL struggle with sin in this world; every person on this earth including all of you self-righteous hypocrites that harass me daily struggle with sin. It is healing to talk with others who face those exact same struggles in their lives and compare notes as to how best to try to win those daily battles and remain steadfast in our faith.
Long story short:
Philemon 2:1-2
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.