Pen Friends - May 13
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 40, 54; PM Psalm 51; Exod. 34:18-35; 1 Thess. 3:1-13; Matt. 5:27-37
Today’s Reflection
Once upon a time, I was a prolific letter writer. My letter writing began when I was in elementary school, and my first correspondence was with my cousin Leslie, who lived in Kentucky. She was less than a year younger than me and we always treasured the week or two we would spend together each summer when my family would drive up from Florida to spend time with my mother’s parents at their farm in Smiths Grove. Throughout elementary and junior high school, we would write back and forth about all manner of things, from making plans for the summer to describing what boy we liked at the moment.
I also was a Girl Scout for seven years, and one of the things we did through scouts was to sign up to have “pen pals.” I had two: Sara and Catherine, both in England. I corresponded the longest with Catherine, who lived in Farnham, a town in Surrey, which is southwest of London. One summer, Catherine’s family came to Florida to visit Disney and the beaches, and we had them over to our house. Later, after we were in college, we still wrote occasionally, and saw each other again once when she was in the States. Looking back, I see how I gained perspective by exchanging all those letters over the years with my cousin in Kentucky and with these friends my age who lived across the Atlantic from me.
I continued writing letters as a college student in the 1990s, before everyone had email and well before the invention of smartphones and texting. Between terms, I corresponded with many of my close friends from college—we’d share what was going on with our summer jobs and social lives and all the things that college students probably just boil down into very succinct texts or share about through posting pictures on Instagram instead of writing it in words.
So, it’s not surprising that I’ve always been drawn to Paul’s letters. That Paul is writing to specific people, whom he cared about and loved—and who cared and loved for him—gives real heart and substance to these letters in ways that make these books of the Bible come alive for me as a reader. From his heartfelt greetings to his prayerful final exhortations, one can sense the real bond of friendship and partnership Paul shared with his friends throughout the Mediterranean region, from Ephesus and Galatia, to Corinth and Rome, to Philippi and Thessaloniki.
In today’s passage from 1 Thessalonians 3, Paul tells of how he and some others decided they needed to stay in Athens, but have sent their dear companion Timothy to be with their friends in Thessaloniki and to send word back about they were doing: “For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labour had been in vain. But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love. He has told us also that you always remember us kindly and long to see us—just as we long to see you” (1 Thess. 3: 5-6).
Timothy came back to Paul and their companions in Athens bearing good news of how their friends and fellow believers in Thessaloniki were doing in their faith. Though they had been left on their own, without the leadership of Paul or others in his group of early church leaders, they had the faith and love and other gifts needed to begin to lead their church on their own—which was a great relief to Paul. All the time and energy they had put into encouraging the believers in Thessaloniki had been fruitful, and hearing word of this warmed Paul’s heart even as he was going through difficult times in Athens: “during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith. For we now live, if you continue to stand firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?” (1 Thess. 3: 7-9).
Finally, Paul’s letters are also filled with heartfelt prayers for his friends far away, and this letter to the Thessalonians is no exception. May we be so bold as to pray for one another, for our friends both near and far, as Paul prayed for these friends of his:
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (I Thess 3: 11-13).
Becky+
Questions for Reflection
Who have you kept in touch with over the years, whether by letters, calls, emails, or texts, who has been a partner and encourager in your faith in Christ? What ways of staying connected with those who are not present with you physically, whether across town or across thousands of miles, resonate best with who you are and how you communicate?
Daily Challenge
In your prayer time today, ask God to bring someone to mind who would be encouraged to hear from you. Make time to reach out to that person to check on how they are doing and let them know they are on your mind and in your heart this day.