Letting go of Friends

"They were deeply distressed that Paul had said that they would never see his face again."

Letting go of a friend and a mentor is always difficult, made even more so if the teacher, like St Paul, is able to articulate the mystery of faith in such a dynamic and compelling manner. When Paul told the people of Miletus that he was leaving and probably would nor see them again, they were upset and worried. A new church, they were still finding their way and were not sure they knew how to grow in Christ without someone like Paul to guide them.

Growing in faith and becoming an adult is hard work. While always respectful of those called to lead, we must also be prepared to make difficult decisions rooted in study and prayer. We cannot simply ask what the church teaches without taking responsibility for interpreting church teaching in our own lives, families and communities.

This is especially true when we cross cultures. Not only must we be attentive to the differences we encounter in customs, food and music, we need to probe and value the deeper values a culture values and celebrates. The role of children and the elderly, for instance, will be different in Kenya than the United States, and only the person willing to find common ground between and among cultures will be able to proclaim the Gospel with the power it deserves. In other words, the people of Miletus and we must let go of the security of always having our mentors close in order to become mentors to the next generation.

Today, listen twice as much as you speak.

How do you manage loss in your life?