By Ron Bueno
With hands bound by his own belt, Apostle Paul is shown a live demonstration of his future should he return to Jerusalem in Acts 21:10-14. This future looks so grim that many of his friends plead with him not to go. Nevertheless, Paul goes; the suffering the Jerusalem Christians were enduring was a reality that required him to act, even if that meant his own imprisonment and death.
Now, I know this is not an upbeat image to start off the new year, but after ending 2009 amidst great hardships (chief of which was the cancer diagnosis of Jenny McGee) and upon entering 2010 and the five-year mark of exponential growth and challenges at ENLACE, Paul’s example is both salient and encouraging.
As in Paul’s time, fear and despair are common responses to suffering. So is retreat. We often want to close our eyes and hide from the challenges we face. As Paul journeys toward his uncertain future, he writes to the church in Rome (Romans 15:22-29) and conveys a different response. I believe his example encourages us to face the new year, with all its uncertainties and challenges, with our eyes wide open.
Let’s examine Paul’s story more closely.
First, while never underplaying the impending danger, Paul bravely goes to Jerusalem. His friends urge him not to but he steps out in courage nonetheless.
Second, Paul commits to helping those who are suffering. Even as his future is uncertain, he knows the Christians in Jerusalem need help and resolves to go to them.
Third, Paul humbly asks his brothers and sisters to pray for him and knows he can’t accomplish his task without their prayers.
Finally, Paul finds hope in God’s peace. It’s while awaiting a sketchy future (one that ultimately ends with his imprisonment and death) that Paul writes the Christians in Rome and reminds them of the power of God’s peace. For many of us, relying on an idea such as peace while we’re marching toward impending doom feels a lot like entering a bloodthirsty battle with a squirt gun. But Paul knew that the peace of God, the active work of unity and love in our lives, is what brings true victory (Romans 16:19).
The best part of 2010 will be to see how God brings victory into the lives of those who are suffering. We can only witness this if our eyes are wide open. I encourage you to open your eyes by being brave in the face of trails and great uncertainty, by committing to your God-given tasks, by clothing yourself with humility and participating hopefully in God’s peace.